The Earth’s delicate ozone layer has started to show “signs of recovery,” according to a recent study by the UN.

The study published by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme shows that a 1987 ban on damaging gases is shown to have contributed to the reversal in the concern-causing trend, reported the UN study.

“The phase-out of ozone depleting substances has had a positive spin-off for the global climate because many of these substances are also potent greenhouse gases,” the UNEP said in a statement Wednesday.

“However, the assessment report cautions that the rapid increase in certain substitutes, which are themselves also potent greenhouse gases, has the potential to undermine these gains,” it added.

Rising levels of greenhouse gases could potentially weaken these constructive steps. The success, however, could help in preventing millions of cases of skin cancer and other similar conditions.

“Now for the first time in this report we say that we see indications of a small increase in total ozone. That means recovery of the ozone layer in terms of total ozone has just started,” said WMO senior scientific officer Geir Braathen.

“International action on the ozone layer is a major environmental success story ... This should encourage us to display the same level of urgency and unity to tackle the even greater challenge of tackling climate change,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

"Hole in ozone layer starts patching up, UN says." RT. N.p., 11 Sept. 2014. Web.11 Sept. 2014.

A German astronaut, Alexander Gerst has taken spectacular images of polar auroras whilst orbiting  Earth on the International Space Station. His pictures led to the creation of the Ultra-HD – time lapse video, running at 25 frames per second.

The pictures were taken at a resolution of 4,256 x 2,832 pixels and depict his orbit around the Earth alongside his fellow ISS Space Station crewmembers.

Gerst’s expedition shows the different hues of the Earth’s atmosphere, the launch of a satellite, the rippling greenish lights characteristic of the electrically-charged sun particle collisions, and bright city lights in the night.

“The artistic effects of the light trails from stars and cities at night are created by superimposing the individual images and fading them out slowly,” the European Space Agency wrote in a release with the video.

The Ultra-High-Definition video – the best video quality possible to date – comes with the instruction: “Be sure to change the settings in YouTube if your computer or television can handle it for the full effect.”

Image of 9/11 taken from space by astronaut Frank Culbertson.

The tragedy of 9/1 occurred this day 13 years ago. Outerspace Message Service will be sending some messages into space in remembrance of 9/11.

A trail of smoke can be seen billowing from the World Trade Center on 9/11 in this image taken by astronaut Frank Culbertson.
  

Culbertson was the only American in space this day 13 years ago.
While orbiting  earth in the International Space Station, Culbertson snapped a photo of smoke streaming above New York City.
"I didn't know exactly what was happening, but I knew it was really bad because there was a big cloud of debris covering Manhattan," Culbertson said in a NASA video on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

"It's horrible to see smoke pouring from wounds in your own country from such a fantastic vantage point. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft dedicated to improving life on the earth and watching life being destroyed by such willful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are," Culberston wrote.
Culbertson, along with Russian cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin, had a unique vantage point on the attacks on the World Trade Center.

RIP to the victims of 9/11.

Macias, Amanada. "Here's What 9/11 Was Like For The Only American Watching From
     Space." Business Insider. N.p., 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.

After a months-long expedition to the International Space Station a group of astronauts will return to Earth tonight.

Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov , Oleg Artemyev  and American astronaut Steve Swanson are to land the Russian-built Soyuz space capsule in the steppes of  Kazakhstan at 10:23 p.m. EDT

The crewmates launched to the International Space Station on March 25, with Swanson commanding the outpost's mission. Three other station crewmembers — NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, cosmonaut Maxim Suarev and German astronaut Alexander Gerst — arrived at the station in late May.










During the Expedition, the station astronauts and cosmonauts over saw robotic cargo ship arrivals nd departures by Russian, European and commercial American spacecraft. Skvortsov and Artemyev completed two spacewalks, and sent  a small Peruvian satellite into space.Swanson made a bit of space history by becoming the first astronaut to post Instagram photos from space.The return of Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev tonight will mark the official start of Expedition 41 on the International Space Station. Suarev will command that mission.

"We've accomplished a lot. We've had a lot of fun," Swanson said Tuesday (Sept. 9) as he gave control of the space station over to Suarev. "This was a team effort. We got together and did it as a team.” He added.

As of August 25th (today), Outer Space Message Center (OSM) will be donating all proceeds from messages sent into outer space to the ALS cause!

Today is the kickoff day and we are excited to see more messages sent into space for ALS. Upload an image of your ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and write what you have to say about it, nominate your friends, and send it into space!

Europe's Rosetta spacecraft has arrived only hours ago, at a comet in deep space. The spacecraft has already captured jaw-dropping photos.

These images reveal details on the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Massive building-size boulders are seen on the exterior of the comet. These  photos were taken when Rosetta was approximately 130 kilometers away from the comet.

Kramer, Miriam. "Europe's Rosetta Spacecraft Makes Historic Arrival at Comet."
     Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Aug. 2014.

David, Leonard. "Mining the Moon? Space Property Rights Still Unclear, Experts
     Say." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2014.

Astrophotographer Justin Hartney sent in his favorite photo of the night sky that he took on a recent trip to the Sahara Desert.

Technical details: Canon 5D Mark III and 50mm 1.8 at 1.8 8" ISO 6400. Image submitted July 16, 2014.

"Send Your Camel to Bed" Hartney, Justin
     Space.com. N.p., 25 July. 2014. Web. 25 July. 2014.