A study published in Nature Astronomy found that catastrophic collisions on icy moons barely disturb hidden oceans, offering new insights into life beyond Earth. The research suggests that moon sizes play a bigger role in determining a collision's aftereffects, with larger moons potentially thickening existing oceans.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected changes in the ring system of Chariklo, a small body in the Solar System. The rings, which were previously thought to be stable, show opposite changes in opacity, suggesting dynamic behavior and the need for a reevaluation of their formation and evolution.
SwRI simulations indicate that large impacts on icy moons with subsurface oceans may not create new oceans, but rather affect their longevity. Smaller moons are more likely to lose their oceans after a large impact.
Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and Gemini Observatory study a distant icy object, Centaur 450P/LONEOS, as it awakens and releases gas and dust, behavior more commonly associated with comets. The study provides new insight into how centaurs evolve into active comets as they migrate inward through the solar system.
The Europlanet Science Congress 2026 will cover various topics in planetary research, including the Solar System, exoplanets, and artificial intelligence. The conference will feature over 125 scientific sessions and keynote talks, with around 1200 planetary scientists attending from 40 countries.
Researchers studied 72 young Sun-like stars and their protoplanetary disks, finding that different types of winds are more important at different stages in a planetary system's early life. The study shows that gas giants like Jupiter must assemble their massive atmospheres quickly before winds carry that raw material away.
Researchers found a naked comet in an image from the Subaru Telescope archive, allowing for the study of Comet 28P/Neujmin's surface structures. This discovery helps understand how Solar System bodies formed and evolved.
Astronomers have discovered the fastest star in the Milky Way, S301, orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at a speed of 25,000 km/s. The star's tight orbit takes just 8.7 years to complete and approaches the black hole at a mere 12 times the distance of Earth to the Sun.
Researchers reveal that spacecraft observations can conceal the true movement of particles in near-Earth space, challenging traditional assumptions about radiation belt dynamics. The study highlights a fundamental challenge for space scientists: different physical processes can produce similar observational evidence.
Researchers created microspheres with twisted-bipolar molecular configuration, enabling angle-selective optical resonance and laser oscillation. The resulting emissions mimic Saturn's rings, showcasing directional control of light in microscopic spaces.
Astronomers have discovered a third planet, Beta Pictoris d, in the system, which is 100 times fainter than Beta Pictoris b and 2.4 times more massive than Jupiter. The planet's wide orbit and extreme faintness make its detection a significant achievement.
PhD candidate Tommaso Zaccaria's research shows that microorganisms from Earth can survive in Martian hot springs and other celestial bodies. This has implications for astronaut health and the study of the human immune system on Earth.
A team of researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science has developed a new approach to detecting alien biology, leveraging statistical patterns in molecular diversity. By analyzing groups of molecules rather than individual ones, the method can identify biological signatures even in samples with limited information.
Researchers measured wind speeds on seven hot, Jupiter-like exoplanets and found that magnetic fields govern the winds. The team's findings provide the strongest evidence yet of magnetism on planets outside our Solar System.
Researchers found strong magnetic fields on ultra-hot Jupiters, similar to those in our Solar System. The presence of these fields could affect planetary climates and potentially create dramatic aurorae displays.
Researchers discovered the Zwan-Wolf effect in the Martian atmosphere, which helps move solar wind plasma around the planet and makes it less dense. This finding advances scientists' understanding of how the sun interacts with the solar system, particularly on unmagnetized bodies like Mars.
Researchers use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to analyze light passing through a distant, temperate gas giant planet's atmosphere, revealing methane and potentially other gases. The study provides insights into planetary formation and evolution, and could improve understanding of Earth's atmosphere.
The SETI Institute recognizes Dr. Matthew Tiscareno's outstanding achievements in astrobiology, technology, and exploration of life in the universe. His research has advanced understanding of solar system orbital dynamics and planetary rings.
Scientists at MIT have developed a new wave model called PlanetWaves that predicts how waves will behave on planetary bodies with different liquids, atmospheres, and gravity. The model reveals that gentle winds can create massive waves on Titan, while hurricane-force winds barely move the surface of lakes on exoplanet 55-Cancri e.
Researchers found auroras on Saturn behave differently from those on Earth, appearing uneven and shifted to one side. The team attributes this to Saturn's rapid rotation, which reshapes its magnetic environment, driving an off-center magnetic bubble pattern.
Researchers found that Jupiter's strong magnetic field created a cavity in its circumplanetary disk, which captured the largest four moons, including Ganymede. In contrast, Saturn's weaker magnetic field failed to form a cavity, resulting in only one large moon, Titan. This discovery provides insight into the formation of satellite sys...
A new study suggests Saturn's magnetic field is asymmetrical, with cusps located most often between 13:00 and 15:00. The researchers believe rapid spin and heavy plasma from Enceladus drag the field lines to the right.
Researchers have confirmed that giant planets like Saturn operate under a unique magnetospheric regime, with a shifted cusp location due to its rapid rotation. This discovery alters models of magnetic reconnection and high-energy particle acceleration, revealing new insights into Saturn's auroral activity.
Researchers at Northumbria University used the James Webb Space Telescope to map Saturn's auroral region, revealing a complex pattern of heating and cooling. The findings show that Saturn's aurora is not just a visual display but actively heats its atmosphere, driving winds that generate electrical currents.
Researchers use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the ultra-low-density planet Kepler-51d, which defies planetary formation models. A thick layer of haze on the planet obscures its chemical elements and origin, making it challenging to discern its formation process.
Astronomers have found that the fundamental physical processes generating auroras are common to different celestial bodies, including the largest moon in the solar system. Observations of Ganymede's auroras reveal locally fragmented patches similar to those on Earth and Jupiter, suggesting a universal mechanism for aurora formation.
Astronomers discovered a distant planetary system around LHS 1903 that breaks the pattern of rocky planets orbiting close to their host star and gas giants farther away. The system's unusual architecture suggests an inside-out planet formation process, where planets form sequentially in ever-changing environments.
Researchers using ESA's Cheops satellite find a small rocky planet in LHS 1903 system, which defies conventional understanding of planetary order and formation. The discovery sparks renewed interest in exploring alternative explanations for this unusual system.
Astronomers at UCLA and UCSD have discovered hydrogen sulfide in the atmospheres of four distant gas giant planets orbiting HR 8799, confirming their planetary status. The detection uses a new data analysis technique that will improve the search for life on other planets.
A new study suggests that Saturn's largest moon, Titan, formed from a merger of two earlier moons, and this event may also be linked to the formation of Saturn's rings. The research proposes that Titan is the product of a collision between an extra moon and itself, resulting in the creation of fragments near Titan's orbit.
Researchers believe a gigantic ring system surrounding a brown dwarf or super-Jupiter could have blocked the star's light, causing an extremely rare fading star phenomenon. The dimming lasted nearly 200 days, making it one of the longest ever observed.
A team of researchers used spectral data from the James Webb Space Telescope to study the HR 8799 star system, finding clear evidence of sulfur on three gas giant planets. This discovery suggests that these massive planets likely formed through core accretion, contradicting older models.
A new study by HKU and UCLA scientists reveals that Alfvén waves act as an invisible power source, driving charged particles into the atmosphere and producing glowing auroral lights. The research provides a definitive answer to the physics of Earth's aurora and offers a universal model applicable to other planets in our solar system.
Dr. Stephen Fuselier, a renowned heliophysicist and member of the National Academy of Sciences, has been appointed vice president of SwRI's Space Science Division. He brings over four decades of experience in space science to lead the division.
Deep magma oceans beneath rocky exoplanets called super-earths could generate powerful magnetic fields to protect against harmful radiation. This suggests that these planets might be more hospitable for life beyond our solar system.
Scientists found that a planet's interior composition, specifically the 'softness' of its vortex base, determines the formation of polar vortices. The study suggests that Saturn may have a harder interior than Jupiter, leading to a single massive polar vortex, while Jupiter's softer interior gives rise to multiple smaller vortices.
Researchers discovered that frozen hydrogen cyanide crystals can trigger unexpected chemical reactions due to their highly reactive surfaces. These findings suggest that hydrogen cyanide could be a precursor to life's building blocks.
A Saturn-mass rogue planet has been detected via microlensing event observation from both Earth and space, enabling direct measurement of its mass and distance. The discovery provides key findings on the diverse pathways of planetary ejection, shedding light on how planets can form and become isolated.
Researchers reanalyze Cassini mission data to find that Titan's interior is more icy and slushy than previously thought, with implications for the search for life on Titan. The new findings suggest a slushy layer instead of an ocean, which could facilitate the growth of simple organisms.
A new study by the University of Zurich suggests that Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, challenging their classification as ice giants. The researchers developed a unique simulation process to model the planets' interiors, which found that the two planets could have either water-rich or rock-rich compositions.
Researchers have discovered that tidal heating can cause ice shells to melt, leading to ocean boiling and unique geological features. The process can also drive compressional tectonics, shaping the surface of icy moons.
Researchers propose a new 2D Necklace Flower Constellation methodology to monitor Titan's methane lakes, dunes, and potential signs of life from orbit. The study reveals that carefully designed satellite constellations can transform how we explore distant moons like Titan.
A new study confirms that Saturn's icy moon Enceladus has significant heat flow at its north pole, overturning previous assumptions and strengthening the case that it could support life. The sub-surface ocean is believed to be one of the best places in our solar system for life to have evolved outside Earth.
Researchers found that methane, ethane, and hydrogen cyanide can interact in ways previously thought impossible, expanding our understanding of chemistry before life emerged. This discovery has implications for the origin of life on Earth and may shed light on similar conditions in other cold environments in space.
Astronomers detected phosphine in the atmosphere of a cool, ancient brown dwarf named Wolf 1130C using the James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery challenges previous theories and suggests that phosphorus chemistry might be more complex than initially thought.
Astronomers have detected phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of low-temperature brown dwarf Wolf 1130C using James Webb Space Telescope. The abundance is comparable to that of Jupiter and Saturn, with a value of 0.100 parts per million.
Scientists have found new complex organic molecules spewing from Saturn's moon Enceladus, confirming that complex chemical reactions are taking place within its underground ocean. The discovery strengthens the case for a dedicated European Space Agency (ESA) mission to orbit and land on Enceladus.
New supercomputer simulations from the Texas Advanced Computing Center have found improved estimates of ice mass Enceladus is losing to space. The findings help with understanding and future robotic exploration of what's below the surface of the icy moon, which might harbor life.
Dr. Glein will discuss Enceladus' deep ocean beneath its icy surface, which contains organic molecules and nutrients needed for life. The Saturn moon's ocean erupts into space, forming a towering plume with constant activity, making it a promising place for life.
A study using James Webb Space Telescope data has revealed complex features in Saturn's atmospheric structure, including fine-scaled bead-like patterns and an asymmetric star-shaped feature. These findings suggest new insights into the energy exchange driving Saturn's aurora and previously unknown atmospheric processes.
Xinting Yu, an assistant professor at UT San Antonio, has been awarded the 2025 Harold C. Urey Prize for her contributions to planetary science. Her research focuses on understanding how planetary surfaces and atmospheres interact and evolve, with applications in exoplanet characterization and habitability studies.
New research questions the origin of organic molecules in Enceladus's plumes, suggesting they could be formed by radiation on Saturn's surface rather than originating from the sub-surface ocean. This challenges astrobiologists' assumptions about the moon's habitability.
The OSIRIS-REx sample return mission revealed asteroid Bennu's composition, history, and unique materials. Researchers found stardust from other stars and organic material formed in interstellar space, shedding light on the early solar system's formation.
A new Durham University study challenges the idea that Jupiter's dilute core was formed by a giant impact, instead suggesting it resulted from how the growing planet absorbed heavy and light materials as it formed. This discovery also sheds light on Saturn's similar dilute core, implying these structures may form gradually during plane...
Researchers recreated icy moon conditions to study cryovolcanism's role in shaping these celestial bodies. They found that effusive cryovolcanism occurs when liquid water is released as a flow on the surface of icy moons.
A new study from NYU Abu Dhabi found that high-energy particles from space, known as cosmic rays, could create energy needed to support life underground on planets and moons. This process, called radiolysis, can power life even in dark, cold environments with no sunlight.
Researchers have detected planet-forming 'pebbles' around two young stars, DG Tau and HL Tau, revealing large reservoirs of pebbles out to at least Neptune-like orbits. This discovery offers an early glimpse into the formation of planetary systems and may help understand how planets are formed.
An international team of astronomers has found a giant planet, TOI-6894b, orbiting a tiny star, TOI-6894, which is smaller than expected to host such a massive planet. The discovery challenges the core accretion theory on planet formation.
Astronomers have discovered a giant planet, TOI-6894b, orbiting the smallest known star to host such a companion. The planet's existence contradicts current planet formation models, which suggest that small stars cannot form or retain massive planets.
Professor Edward Thomas Jr. has been awarded the prestigious Star Dust Award by the International Dusty Plasma Community for his 30-year contributions to the field of dusty plasma physics. He is recognized for his groundbreaking research in magnetized dusty plasmas, including the development of novel experimental diagnostics.