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Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
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Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
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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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China Recruiting For Planetary Defence Force Amid Asteroid Collision Fears
The recruitment ad posted on Chinese social media platforms invited applications from recent graduates aged under 35.
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Astronomers Spot a High-Speed Star That May Carry a Planet With It
Astronomers have identified a celestial object moving through the Milky Way at over 1.2 million mph. Believed to be a small star with a possible massive exoplanet, the discovery could mark the fastest-known planetary system. If its speed exceeds 1.3 million mph, it may eventually escape the galaxy. Scientists are still verifying whether it is the s...
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New Research Suggests Mars Experienced Warm and Cold Periods Affecting Liquid Water
New research from Harvard University suggests that Mars experienced alternating warm and cold periods billions of years ago, affecting its climate and ability to sustain liquid water. These fluctuations, which lasted up to 100,000 years, may have influenced the planet’s potential for life. The study highlights the role of hydrogen in trapping hea...
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New Study Finds Active Lunar Tectonics, Challenges Moon’s Dormancy
A recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal reveals that the moon is still experiencing tectonic activity. Scientists identified 266 small ridges on the far side of the moon, formed within the last 160 to 200 million years. The study suggests these ridges result from geological forces like lunar shrinking and orbital shifts. The findi...
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Earth's Hidden 'Ignorosphere' Could Provide Insights into Auroras
A new dataset developed by Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo provides valuable insights into Earth's upper atmosphere, specifically the mesosphere. Spanning 19 years, the data sheds light on phenomena like auroras, gravity waves, and their connection to space weather. The study, published in Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, ...
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Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
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Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
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Scientists Puzzled by a Strange Dark Spot Fading on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
A mysterious dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus has baffled scientists after it faded over several years. Discovered through NASA’s Cassini mission, the spot's sudden disappearance raises questions about the moon's geology. Experts have ruled out shadows and image artefacts, suggesting that the feature could be the result of an impact or a depo...
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Scientists From India, A Telescope In Chile, And An Astronomical Discovery
Astronomers from India have made an intriguing discovery in a unique tri-star solar system located 489 light years from Earth. The discovery will help astrophysicists get a better understanding of planetary formations.
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Researchers Points out Rapid Surge in Global Temperature Could be Due to Reduced Planetary Albedo
In a study by the Alfred Wegener Institute, scientists identified a sharp drop in planetary albedo as a primary factor in the 2023 temperature rise. This decline, particularly in low-altitude clouds, has been linked to a 0.23°C increase in global mean temperature. The study highlights that global warming itself may be reducing cloud cover, suggest...
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Did Venus Ever Have Oceans? Scientists Have An Answer
Earth is an ocean world, with water covering about 71% of its surface. Venus, our closest planetary neighbor, is sometimes called Earth's twin based on their similar size and rocky composition.
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Earth Microbes Discovered in Asteroid Ryugu Sample, Raises Contamination Concerns
A study has confirmed that terrestrial microbes colonised a Ryugu asteroid sample after its return to Earth in 2020. The micro-organisms were found to proliferate upon exposure to Earth's atmosphere, raising concerns over contamination risks in planetary exploration. Published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, the findings underline the need for ...
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Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
-
Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
-
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...
-
China Recruiting For Planetary Defence Force Amid Asteroid Collision Fears
The recruitment ad posted on Chinese social media platforms invited applications from recent graduates aged under 35.
-
Astronomers Spot a High-Speed Star That May Carry a Planet With It
Astronomers have identified a celestial object moving through the Milky Way at over 1.2 million mph. Believed to be a small star with a possible massive exoplanet, the discovery could mark the fastest-known planetary system. If its speed exceeds 1.3 million mph, it may eventually escape the galaxy. Scientists are still verifying whether it is the s...
-
New Research Suggests Mars Experienced Warm and Cold Periods Affecting Liquid Water
New research from Harvard University suggests that Mars experienced alternating warm and cold periods billions of years ago, affecting its climate and ability to sustain liquid water. These fluctuations, which lasted up to 100,000 years, may have influenced the planet’s potential for life. The study highlights the role of hydrogen in trapping hea...
-
New Study Finds Active Lunar Tectonics, Challenges Moon’s Dormancy
A recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal reveals that the moon is still experiencing tectonic activity. Scientists identified 266 small ridges on the far side of the moon, formed within the last 160 to 200 million years. The study suggests these ridges result from geological forces like lunar shrinking and orbital shifts. The findi...
-
Earth's Hidden 'Ignorosphere' Could Provide Insights into Auroras
A new dataset developed by Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo provides valuable insights into Earth's upper atmosphere, specifically the mesosphere. Spanning 19 years, the data sheds light on phenomena like auroras, gravity waves, and their connection to space weather. The study, published in Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, ...
-
Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
-
Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
-
Scientists Puzzled by a Strange Dark Spot Fading on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
A mysterious dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus has baffled scientists after it faded over several years. Discovered through NASA’s Cassini mission, the spot's sudden disappearance raises questions about the moon's geology. Experts have ruled out shadows and image artefacts, suggesting that the feature could be the result of an impact or a depo...
-
Scientists From India, A Telescope In Chile, And An Astronomical Discovery
Astronomers from India have made an intriguing discovery in a unique tri-star solar system located 489 light years from Earth. The discovery will help astrophysicists get a better understanding of planetary formations.
-
Researchers Points out Rapid Surge in Global Temperature Could be Due to Reduced Planetary Albedo
In a study by the Alfred Wegener Institute, scientists identified a sharp drop in planetary albedo as a primary factor in the 2023 temperature rise. This decline, particularly in low-altitude clouds, has been linked to a 0.23°C increase in global mean temperature. The study highlights that global warming itself may be reducing cloud cover, suggest...
-
Did Venus Ever Have Oceans? Scientists Have An Answer
Earth is an ocean world, with water covering about 71% of its surface. Venus, our closest planetary neighbor, is sometimes called Earth's twin based on their similar size and rocky composition.
-
Earth Microbes Discovered in Asteroid Ryugu Sample, Raises Contamination Concerns
A study has confirmed that terrestrial microbes colonised a Ryugu asteroid sample after its return to Earth in 2020. The micro-organisms were found to proliferate upon exposure to Earth's atmosphere, raising concerns over contamination risks in planetary exploration. Published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, the findings underline the need for ...
