Patrick Pester
Latest articles by Patrick Pester
![A detailed view of the lake floor bathymetry In Lake Rotorua at a scale of 1:17,500.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgtDLFHU4eQHT8c5VBqPAm-320-80.jpg)
Major 'magnetic anomaly' discovered deep below New Zealand's Lake Rotorua
By Patrick Pester published
Lake Rotorua, which sits at the heart of a dormant volcano and is the setting for one of New Zealand's most famous Māori love stories, has been mapped in detail for the 1st time.
![Artist's impression of string theory.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6D46uUVWWJs3ddSLyCESnT-320-80.jpg)
Scientists propose 'missing' law for the evolution of everything in the universe
By Patrick Pester published
The "law of increasing functional information" says that complex systems in nature evolve to become more complex.
![A massive volcano eruption seen from space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YkieGoJLvuLRhtJL4YdXJ7-320-80.jpeg)
Did the Tonga undersea volcano eruption cause this year's extreme heat?
By Patrick Pester published
The 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption may have contributed to this year's heat, but it's not causing climate change.
![Sir David Attenborough holds an ammonite as a CGI pterosaur and T. rex loom behind him, with an asteroid streaking across the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QsFKpMsqqtF8XnUbhnQVTF-320-80.jpg)
Cretaceous asteroid armageddon ignites TV screens in 'Dinosaur Apocalypse'
By Patrick Pester published
'Dinosaur Apocalypse,' a PBS NOVA special narrated by Sir David Attenborough, attempts to reconstruct the day Earth was hit by an asteroid 66 million years ago.
![A 3D illustration of a woman watching a climate change simulation of Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bTBYUHLN7atekJ3WWfC9Hb-320-80.jpeg)
Could climate change make humans go extinct?
By Patrick Pester last updated
Humanity is feeling the effects of climate change around the world, but could climate change make humans go extinct?
![This NASA supercomputer model shows how greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide fluctuate in Earth’s atmosphere throughout the year. Higher concentrations are shown in red.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WnotGdr5Y4bSwCwsSbTFvJ-320-80.jpg)
When did scientists first warn humanity about climate change?
By Patrick Pester last updated
Scientists have known about climate change for a while, with an overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are the cause. But when were people first warned about the climate change?
![Antarctic sea ice floats in the water in the Lemaire Channel off of Antarctica.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MiGT45QM3EWX6v7r62VwKh-320-80.jpeg)
Antarctic sea ice at record low in February, satellite data reveal
By Patrick Pester published
Antarctic sea-ice extent dropped to a record low in the satellite data in February, but it's likely due to natural variation.
![A photo of a methane flare in Chicago.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G7sgo4VDUbEdBUdQsDsFbn-320-80.jpg)
Massive methane leaks mapped from space
By Patrick Pester published
Using satellite data, scientists have mapped massive methane plumes caused by human activities around the world.
![A concept image of alien microbes above Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wQ3gndGadh3T7xsL5KE4va-320-80.jpeg)
Alien organisms could hitch a ride on our spacecraft and contaminate Earth, scientists warn
By Patrick Pester published
Scientists warn that increased space exploration raises the risk that alien organisms will invade Earth and that Earth organisms will invade other planets.
![An image of the G237 protocluster with its galaxies in different colors representing different wavelengths of observations.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G3naqPY4q7w65W2HE7QBzU-320-80.png)
Enormous 'shipyard' of ancient galaxies discovered 11 billion light-years away
By Patrick Pester published
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a massive protocluster 11 billion light-years away that acts as an assembly yard for over 60 emerging galaxies.