Sonic booms from meteors can release the energy of hundreds of tons of TNT – here’s how they work

2026 has already been a banner year for meteor spottings and sonic booms across the world.

Related

Other articles with overlapping topics.

T

The Conversation

Asteroid or comet? Meteor or meteorite? How to identify and classify the rocks you see streaking through the sky

An observatory director describes the differences between the types of rocks that fly through space.

Adam Lark, Associate Professor of Instruction for Physics, Hamilton College·Jun 16, 2026

T

The Conversation

Floating volcanic rock is disrupting life in Papua New Guinea – and the problem will last a long time

An underwater eruption has spread vast ‘rafts’ of pumice through the Bismarck Sea, hampering marine travel and wreaking uncertain long-term consequences.

Rebecca Carey, Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania·Jun 16, 2026

Nautilus

ISS Astronaut Shares Incredible Photos of Volcanoes Taken From Space

And one of them was putting on a show The post ISS Astronaut Shares Incredible Photos of Volcanoes Taken From Space appeared first on Nautilus.

Jake Currie·Jun 15, 2026

P

ProPublica

Trump Plans to Protect Methane-Leaking Stripper Wells. This Billionaire Donor Will Benefit.

The post Trump Plans to Protect Methane-Leaking Stripper Wells. This Billionaire Donor Will Benefit. appeared first on ProPublica.

Alex Cuadros·Jun 16, 2026

Quanta Magazine

Where Did Earth Get Its Oceans? Maybe It Made Them Itself.

At first, scientists thought Earth’s water came from comets. Then, asteroids. Now, they wonder if Earth’s water is homegrown. The post Where Did Earth Get Its Oceans? Maybe It Made Them Itself. first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Robin George Andrews·Jun 12, 2026

Nautilus

What Is a Trillion, Really?

The sum is hard to comprehend The post What Is a Trillion, Really? appeared first on Nautilus.

Bob Grant·Jun 15, 2026