Word: phenomena
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Many scientists say it is, thanks to the greenhouse effect, the heat-trapping property of gases that pollute the atmosphere. Some computer studies indicate that the warming could cause more frequent droughts and eventually produce a major climatic upheaval. Others say, not necessarily: increased cloudiness and other mitigating phenomena could counteract the warming before it has significant effect...
These Californians may never get to see the two most important urban phenomena, yellow snow and grey snow, or have the somewhat dubious honor of having local brats chuck iceballs at their head...
Evidence leading to the hypothesis of a double supernova, however, was collected by Kirshner and his co-workers while examining the remnant of an ancient explosion, which took place more than 4000 years ago. Astronomical observers uncover about 20 of such stellar fossils, which are less useful than phenomena occuring more recently and closer to the Earth...
...studying supernovae, scientists can learn more about the creation of stars and other astronomical phenomena. "They can illuminate cosmic mysteries, like the size and shape of the universe...
Kirshner says one important reason to analyze these phenomena is because they are theorized to be the source of all heavy elements in the universe. When the stellar explosion takes place, it fuses all of the star's abudant light elements, like hydrogen and helium, into heavy elements, like iron. "There is a real sense that supernova elements are actually the physical origin of [the heavy] chemicals in our body," Kirshner says. The elements these supernovae create are in everything, he says, including "life, earth, iron and gold...