Habitable Planets
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New Research Reveals Mars’ Red Colour Linked to Ancient Water Presence
A recent study suggests that Mars’ red hue originates from ferrihydrite, an iron oxide that forms in water-rich environments. Scientists recreated Martian dust in labs and found that the mineral remained stable despite the planet’s dry conditions. Data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers confirm this discovery, reshaping theories about Mars’ ...
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Ancient Martian Ocean Shoreline Discovered Beneath Surface by Zhurong Rover
China's Zhurong rover has uncovered evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars, with ground-penetrating radar detecting a buried shoreline beneath the Utopia Basin. The rover’s scans revealed sloping sand layers similar to those found on Earth’s beaches, reinforcing theories of long-term water presence. Experts highlight that these formations are not...
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Scientists Observe Rare Plastic Ice, A Hybrid Form of Ice and Water, Under Extreme Pressure and Heat
Researchers have observed plastic ice, a phase where water molecules rotate while staying in a solid structure. The discovery, made under extreme pressure and heat, could provide new insights into the composition of icy exoplanets and moons. The findings suggest plastic ice VII may have existed in Europa and Titan's interiors and could influence nu...
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Curiosity Rover Finds Evidence of Liquid Water on Mars, Expanding Habitability Timeline
Reports from NASA’s Curiosity rover reveal evidence of ancient liquid water on Mars, challenging previous models. Images from Gale Crater show wave-like ripples, similar to Earth’s lakebeds. Scientists suggest the findings indicate Mars once had a denser atmosphere, which allowed liquid water to exist longer than previously believed. This disco...
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Newly Confirmed Super-Earth HD 20794 d May Support Life in Habitable Zone
A super-Earth, HD 20794 d, has been confirmed within a habitable zone 20 light years from Earth. The planet, first detected in 2022, has a mass six times that of Earth and orbits a sun-like star. Although its elliptical orbit affects temperature stability, its potential to sustain liquid water makes it a key target for upcoming space missions. Scie...
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Venus Never Had Oceans or Conditions to Support Life, New Study Finds
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have concluded that Venus likely never had oceans or conditions to support life. Their study, published in Nature Astronomy, analysed atmospheric chemistry and volcanic activity. They found that volcanic gases lacked significant steam, indicating the planet's interior has always been dry. This research ha...
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Fourth Planet in Kepler-51 System
A study published in The Astronomical Journal reveals the discovery of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, led by Dr Jessica Libby-Roberts of Penn State and Dr Kento Masuda of Osaka University. Observations indicated that only a four-planet model could explain the transit timing variations. Kepler-51e’s orbit, just inside the s...
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Super-Earth In the Solar System Could Have Rendered Our Planet Uninhabitable, Says Study
A recent study explores a hypothetical super-Earth between Mars and Jupiter, revealing its severe impact on Earth's orbit and climate. Conducted by Florida Institute of Technology scientists Emily Simpson and Howard Chen, the simulation demonstrates how such a planet’s gravity could destabilise neighbouring planets, causing erratic orbits and ext...
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Evidence of Hot Water on Mars Found in Ancient Meteorite From Early Days of Solar System
Evidence of ancient hot water activity on Mars has been found in a 4.45-billion-year-old zircon grain from the NWA7034 meteorite. The findings, detailed in Science Advances, reveal that hydrothermal systems were active on Mars during the Pre-Noachian period. Researchers suggest these systems, essential for life on Earth, could have made Mars habita...
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Discovery Of Ancient Hot Water On Mars Indicator Of Its Habitable Past
Australian researchers have discovered the oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars, revealing that the planet may have once been habitable.
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NASA's Roman Space Telescope Gets New Coronagraph to Spot Exoplanets
NASA's Roman Space Telescope has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph, a vital step in detecting planets far beyond our solar system. This tool will help block starlight, enabling the telescope to capture faint planetary light. The coronagraph marks a significant advancement in exoplanet detection, allowing the telescope to observe planets...
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Mars May Have Been Habitable Much More Recently Than Previously Thought: Study
The study published in Nature Communications makes for the most compelling case to date about Mars' supposed 'life-rich' history.
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China To Build Lunar Space Station, Explore Habitable Planets Under New Plan
China announced plans to launch a manned lunar mission, construct a lunar space station and explore habitable planets and extra-terrestrial life to expand its space programme in the next few decades.
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China to Build Lunar Space Station and Explore Other Planets for Habitability by 2050
China has revealed plans to construct a lunar space station, with the goal of exploring habitable planets and searching for extraterrestrial life. The country will launch a manned lunar mission in the next few years as part of its long-term space programme, which spans from 2024 to 2050. China’s key priorities include studying planetary atmospher...
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NASA's Curiosity Rover Provides Insights into Mars' Uninhabitable Climate
NASA's Curiosity rover is providing new insights into how Mars transformed from a potentially habitable planet, abundant in liquid water, to the inhospitable landscape seen today. Researchers discovered that carbon-rich minerals found in Gale Crater indicate extreme evaporation and suggest the planet's climate could support only transient liquid wa...
-
New Research Reveals Mars’ Red Colour Linked to Ancient Water Presence
A recent study suggests that Mars’ red hue originates from ferrihydrite, an iron oxide that forms in water-rich environments. Scientists recreated Martian dust in labs and found that the mineral remained stable despite the planet’s dry conditions. Data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers confirm this discovery, reshaping theories about Mars’ ...
-
Ancient Martian Ocean Shoreline Discovered Beneath Surface by Zhurong Rover
China's Zhurong rover has uncovered evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars, with ground-penetrating radar detecting a buried shoreline beneath the Utopia Basin. The rover’s scans revealed sloping sand layers similar to those found on Earth’s beaches, reinforcing theories of long-term water presence. Experts highlight that these formations are not...
-
Scientists Observe Rare Plastic Ice, A Hybrid Form of Ice and Water, Under Extreme Pressure and Heat
Researchers have observed plastic ice, a phase where water molecules rotate while staying in a solid structure. The discovery, made under extreme pressure and heat, could provide new insights into the composition of icy exoplanets and moons. The findings suggest plastic ice VII may have existed in Europa and Titan's interiors and could influence nu...
-
Curiosity Rover Finds Evidence of Liquid Water on Mars, Expanding Habitability Timeline
Reports from NASA’s Curiosity rover reveal evidence of ancient liquid water on Mars, challenging previous models. Images from Gale Crater show wave-like ripples, similar to Earth’s lakebeds. Scientists suggest the findings indicate Mars once had a denser atmosphere, which allowed liquid water to exist longer than previously believed. This disco...
-
Newly Confirmed Super-Earth HD 20794 d May Support Life in Habitable Zone
A super-Earth, HD 20794 d, has been confirmed within a habitable zone 20 light years from Earth. The planet, first detected in 2022, has a mass six times that of Earth and orbits a sun-like star. Although its elliptical orbit affects temperature stability, its potential to sustain liquid water makes it a key target for upcoming space missions. Scie...
-
Venus Never Had Oceans or Conditions to Support Life, New Study Finds
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have concluded that Venus likely never had oceans or conditions to support life. Their study, published in Nature Astronomy, analysed atmospheric chemistry and volcanic activity. They found that volcanic gases lacked significant steam, indicating the planet's interior has always been dry. This research ha...
-
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Fourth Planet in Kepler-51 System
A study published in The Astronomical Journal reveals the discovery of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, led by Dr Jessica Libby-Roberts of Penn State and Dr Kento Masuda of Osaka University. Observations indicated that only a four-planet model could explain the transit timing variations. Kepler-51e’s orbit, just inside the s...
-
Super-Earth In the Solar System Could Have Rendered Our Planet Uninhabitable, Says Study
A recent study explores a hypothetical super-Earth between Mars and Jupiter, revealing its severe impact on Earth's orbit and climate. Conducted by Florida Institute of Technology scientists Emily Simpson and Howard Chen, the simulation demonstrates how such a planet’s gravity could destabilise neighbouring planets, causing erratic orbits and ext...
-
Evidence of Hot Water on Mars Found in Ancient Meteorite From Early Days of Solar System
Evidence of ancient hot water activity on Mars has been found in a 4.45-billion-year-old zircon grain from the NWA7034 meteorite. The findings, detailed in Science Advances, reveal that hydrothermal systems were active on Mars during the Pre-Noachian period. Researchers suggest these systems, essential for life on Earth, could have made Mars habita...
-
Discovery Of Ancient Hot Water On Mars Indicator Of Its Habitable Past
Australian researchers have discovered the oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars, revealing that the planet may have once been habitable.
-
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Gets New Coronagraph to Spot Exoplanets
NASA's Roman Space Telescope has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph, a vital step in detecting planets far beyond our solar system. This tool will help block starlight, enabling the telescope to capture faint planetary light. The coronagraph marks a significant advancement in exoplanet detection, allowing the telescope to observe planets...
-
Mars May Have Been Habitable Much More Recently Than Previously Thought: Study
The study published in Nature Communications makes for the most compelling case to date about Mars' supposed 'life-rich' history.
-
China To Build Lunar Space Station, Explore Habitable Planets Under New Plan
China announced plans to launch a manned lunar mission, construct a lunar space station and explore habitable planets and extra-terrestrial life to expand its space programme in the next few decades.
-
China to Build Lunar Space Station and Explore Other Planets for Habitability by 2050
China has revealed plans to construct a lunar space station, with the goal of exploring habitable planets and searching for extraterrestrial life. The country will launch a manned lunar mission in the next few years as part of its long-term space programme, which spans from 2024 to 2050. China’s key priorities include studying planetary atmospher...
-
NASA's Curiosity Rover Provides Insights into Mars' Uninhabitable Climate
NASA's Curiosity rover is providing new insights into how Mars transformed from a potentially habitable planet, abundant in liquid water, to the inhospitable landscape seen today. Researchers discovered that carbon-rich minerals found in Gale Crater indicate extreme evaporation and suggest the planet's climate could support only transient liquid wa...
