Scientists shoot down Ted Cruz after attack on Nasa's Earth sciences mission

Agency provides key data on volcanoes, algae growth and weather, but the Texas senator wants Nasa to focus on space exploration and drop climate change study

Curtailing the Earth sciences mission of Nasa would deprive scientists of important data relating to volcanic eruptions, destructive algae growth, extreme weather events and much more, experts warned a week after a confrontation on Capitol Hill over the Nasa budget between Senator Ted Cruz and the agency director.

Related: Republican senator Ted Cruz to oversee Nasa in Congress