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Planetary Sciences news
Study unveils volcanic history and clues to ancient life on Mars
In a study co-authored by a Texas A&M University scientist, researchers have revealed new insights into the geological history of Mars's Jezero Crater, the landing site of NASA's Perseverance rover. Their findings suggest ...
Astrobiology
16 hours ago
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Scientists probe the mystery of Titan's missing deltas
For scientists who want to learn about the geological history of a planet, river deltas are a great place to start. Deltas gather sediment from a large area into one place, which can be studied to reveal climate and tectonic ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 18, 2025
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NASA's Lucy spacecraft is speeding toward another close encounter with an asteroid
NASA's Lucy spacecraft will swoop past a small asteroid this weekend as it makes its way to an even bigger prize: the unexplored swarms of asteroids out near Jupiter.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 18, 2025
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NASA balloon at float, begins Southern Hemisphere journey
The first super pressure balloon flight of NASA's New Zealand Balloon Campaign reached its float altitude after lifting off from Wānaka Airport, New Zealand, at 10:44 a.m. NZST, Thursday, April 17 (6:44 p.m., Wednesday, ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 18, 2025
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Curiosity rover finds large carbon deposits on Mars
Research from NASA's Curiosity rover has found evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars, bringing scientists closer to an answer on whether the red planet was ever capable of supporting life.
Astrobiology
Apr 17, 2025
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Indicators of alien life may have been found. An astrophysicist explains what the new research means
What do you think of when it comes to extraterrestrial life? Most popular sci-fi books and TV shows suggest humanoid beings could live on other planets. But when astronomers are searching for extraterrestrial life, it is ...
Astronomy
Apr 17, 2025
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Testing in the clouds: NASA flies to improve satellite data
In February, NASA's ER-2 science aircraft flew instruments designed to improve satellite data products and Earth science observations. From data collection to processing, satellite systems continue to advance, and NASA is ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 17, 2025
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Scientists discover new trigger mechanism for solar microflares
A study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters reveals new insights into the triggering mechanisms of solar microflares and the self-similarity of solar flares. The research was led by Prof. Bi Yi from the Yunnan ...
Astronomy
Apr 17, 2025
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Astronomers detect strongest sign yet of possible life on a planet beyond our own
Astronomers have detected the most promising signs yet of a possible biosignature outside the solar system, although they remain cautious.
Astrobiology
Apr 17, 2025
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Q&A: What if we don't find any life on exoplanets?
Scientists are currently planning two major space missions to search for life in space: NASA's Project HWO and Project LIFE, led by ETH Zurich. If one of these missions were to discover life on an exoplanet, i.e., a planet ...
Astrobiology
Apr 17, 2025
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Why some meteor showers are so unpredictable
Why do comets and their meteoroid streams weave in and out of Earth's orbit and their orbits disperse over time? In a paper published in the journal Icarus, two SETI Institute researchers show that this is not due to the ...
Astronomy
Apr 16, 2025
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Tracing phosphorus through cosmic evolution: From interstellar space to Earth's biochemistry
There is a large diversity in the chemical composition of astronomical objects such as planets, comets, circumstellar envelopes, or galactic gas clouds. One great challenge in astrochemistry is to understand in detail how ...
Astrobiology
Apr 16, 2025
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A roadmap for obtaining first sample returns from Mercury and Venus
How can we successfully collect and return samples from Mercury and Venus to Earth? This is what a recent study presented at the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference hopes to address as a pair of researchers from the ...
Space Exploration
Apr 16, 2025
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Crystal clues on Mars point to watery and possibly life-supporting past
A QUT-led study analyzing data from NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered compelling evidence of multiple mineral-forming events just beneath the Martian surface—findings that bring scientists one step closer to answering ...
Astrobiology
Apr 16, 2025
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Rare exoplanet orbits twin stars in 'Star Wars'-like twist
Astronomers have discovered a planet that orbits at a 90-degree angle around a rare pair of strange stars—a real-life 'twist' on the fictional twin suns of Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine.
Astronomy
Apr 16, 2025
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Earth's magnetic pole shift: Sunscreen, clothes and caves may have helped Homo sapiens survive 41,000 years ago
Ancient Homo sapiens may have benefited from sunscreen, tailored clothes and the use of caves during the shifting of the magnetic North Pole over Europe about 41,000 years ago, new University of Michigan research shows.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 16, 2025
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Earth's ionospheric turbulence may be linked to magnetospheric activity
An international team of astrophysicists and planetary scientists has discovered a possible link between magnetospheric activity and ionospheric turbulence. In their study published in the journal Physical Review Letters, ...
NASA aims to fly first quantum sensor for gravity measurements
This mission will pave the way for groundbreaking observations of everything from petroleum reserves to global supplies of fresh water.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 16, 2025
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Scientists find evidence that challenges theories of the origin of water on Earth
A team of researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered crucial evidence for the origin of water on Earth. Using a rare type of meteorite, known as an enstatite chondrite, which has a composition analogous to that ...
Astrobiology
Apr 15, 2025
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How crater shapes are revealing more about Titan's icy crust
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is a fascinating world that is unique among moons of the outer solar system. It's shrouded in a thick, hazy atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methane and it's the only moon with a substantial atmosphere ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 15, 2025
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More news
Jupiter's enigmatic weather explained by confirmed 'mushball' phenomenon
Molten Martian core could explain red planet's magnetic quirks
NASA experiment shows solar wind might make water on the moon
New sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting nearby star detected
Lucy spacecraft prepares for second asteroid encounter
New insights into an enigmatic form of magnetic reconnection
NASA's IMAP arrives at NASA Marshall for testing in XRCF
How many exoplanets are hiding in dust?
Flocks of CubeSats can efficiently monitor farms
Other news
Red, pink or white, all roses were once yellow says genomic analysis
New mechanism uses photonic crystal for concentrating light on a chip
Regulators of DNA folding could be targets for treating cancer
Mini-hairpin peptide structure found to stall protein synthesis in E. coli
Precision-shaped Cu₂O crystals unlock new potential for clean energy catalysts
A micromoon will grace the night skies this weekend
The search for biosignatures in Enceladus' plumes
Methane detected in the atmosphere of the nearest T dwarf
'Magic carpet' guides cells to self-organize in 3D
New quantum 'game' showcases the promise of quantum computers
