Venus vortex

Photos of a double-eyed hurricane in the south pole of Venus taken by the European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft can unravel the mysteries of the thick atmosphere of the planet, which keeps it smouldering hot. The newly released images show the double vortex over the south pole is even more complex than first thought. As the atmospheric temperature changes with altitude, scientists can cut through the layers of cloud and probe different atmospheric depth by studying different wavelengths of infrared light

Short lives

In what is being regarded as the first study of the population distribution among dinosaurs, it has been revealed that dinosaurs lived an easier life when they were young, reports the journal Science. Life got tough for them once they reached sexual maturity. According to Gregory Erickson of Florida State University in Tallahassee, US, who conducted the study, this is because they generally started getting killed when they were middle-aged. This pattern can still be observed in herbivores like elephants.

Climate change

Greenhouse gas experts may now rest assured. Some studies published early this year suggested that trees exhale methane, forcing a rethink on the strategy to plant forests to absorb carbon dioxide. According to Miko Kirschbaum, who studies climate changes at the Australian National University in Canberra, the studies made experts question the effectiveness of the strategy of planting forests. But recent research shows that the amount of methane released in the atmosphere by trees does not attain alarming proportions.