Search results for Planet Mercury

Astronomy Jan 8, 2024

Astronomers observe three iron rings in a planet-forming disk

The origin of Earth and the solar system inspires scientists and the public alike. By studying the present state of our home planet and other objects in the solar system, researchers have developed a detailed picture of the ...

Planetary Sciences Jan 2, 2024

How many planets could be in the Kuiper Belt?

A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters investigates the potential existence of Mars-sized free-floating planets (FFPs)—also known as rogue planets, starless planets, and wandering planets—that could ...

Planetary Sciences Jan 2, 2024

TRAPPIST-1c isn't the exo-Venus we were hoping for, but don't blame the star

A recent study posted to the arXiv preprint server and accepted to The Astrophysical Journal uses computer models to investigate why the exoplanet, TRAPPIST-1c, could not possess a thick carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere despite ...

Astronomy Dec 22, 2023

What happens if you put a black hole into the sun?

In a hypothetical scenario, small, primordial black holes could be captured by newly forming stars. An international team, led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, has now modeled the evolution of ...

Planetary Sciences Dec 18, 2023

Weather in the solar system can teach us about weather on exoplanets

The way astronomers study planets in our own solar system is surprisingly similar to the way they study exoplanets, despite the latter being orders of magnitude more distant. The key is spectroscopy—examining the wavelengths ...

Plants & Animals Dec 13, 2023

Study suggests boosting beaver populations could have toxic consequences

Beavers are influential animals in ecosystems. These dam-building, tree-chewing rodents change streamflow with their wooden barriers and create rich wetland habitats by diverting water into soils near rivers. They help conserve ...

Astronomy Dec 7, 2023

Large exomoons unlikely around Kepler-1625 b and Kepler-1708 b, astronomers say

Only two of the more than 5,300 known exoplanets have so far provided evidence of moons in orbit around them. In observations of the planets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b from the Kepler and Hubble space telescopes, researchers ...

Planetary Sciences Nov 27, 2023

What would happen to Earth if a rogue star came too close?

Stars are gravitationally fastened to their galaxies and move in concert with their surroundings. But sometimes, something breaks the bond. If a star gets too close to a supermassive black hole, for example, the black hole ...

Ecology Nov 22, 2023

Bay Area scientist with bees in his bonnet gives Gov. Newsom a buzz in his ear

Among the presidents of nations, high-profile dignitaries, and leaders of household-name companies like Visa, ExxonMobil and Microsoft who descended on San Francisco last week to speak at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ...

Astrobiology Nov 17, 2023

Unveiling Mercury's geological mysteries: Salt glaciers, primordial atmosphere, and the new frontiers of astrobiology

Scientists from the Planetary Science Institute have uncovered evidence of potential salt glaciers on Mercury, opening a new frontier in astrobiology by revealing a volatile environment that might echo habitability conditions ...

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