The Cassini spacecraft detected molecular hydrogen in the plume of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water. This finding indicates that Enceladus' sub-surface ocean may support life, making it a promising candidate for astrobiological research.
Scientists from Southwest Research Institute have discovered hydrogen gas in the plume of material erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus, indicating ongoing hydrothermal activity. This finding suggests that Enceladus' ocean floor could support life similar to that found near hydrothermal vents on Earth.
New research from Brown University suggests that lunar volcano Ina is actually around 3.5 billion years old, not within the past 100 million years as previously thought. The feature's youthful appearance was attributed to its porous surface, created by magmatic foam, which hides regolith buildup and skews crater counts.
Researchers propose that debris from an asteroid impact could have formed Mars' rings, which would then break apart and re-form into moons. The model suggests that this cycle may repeat, potentially explaining sedimentary deposits found on Mars.
A group of scientists led by Kirby Runyon argue for a definition of 'planet' that focuses on the body's intrinsic qualities, such as mass and gravitational shape. This new definition would expand the number of planets in our solar system to approximately 110, including Pluto.
Scientists studied iron isotope ratios to understand Earth's differentiation event and how it differed from other planets. Nickel played a key role in shaping the ratios, with different elements forming under various planetary formation conditions.
Researchers analyzed zinc and volatile elements in trinitite glass, comparing it to lunar rocks. The study found similarities between the two, supporting the giant impact theory of the Moon's formation.
Scientists have discovered a primordial soup in the Earth's mantle older than the moon, containing helium-3, a vestige of the Big Bang. Only the hottest and most buoyant mantle plumes draw from this reservoir, suggesting it may be preserved due to its density.
A UCLA-led research team has reported the moon's age to be at least 4.51 billion years old, with a range of 40 million to 140 million years older than previously believed. The findings were made using mineral analysis of zircons brought back by the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
A new study from Georgia Institute of Technology reveals that Charon, Pluto's largest moon, significantly reduces the stripping of Pluto's atmosphere by solar wind when positioned between the sun and Pluto. This barrier creates a more acute angle of Pluto's bow shock, slowing down atmospheric loss.
Solar storms can charge up soil in moon's permanently shadowed regions, potentially producing sparks that could vaporize and melt the soil. This process, known as dielectric breakdown, could alter the regolith and provide clues to the moon's history.
Scientists studying lunar sonic booms hope to answer whether mini shock waves on the moon are being generated by protons in the solar wind colliding with pockets of magnetic fields. The findings come from NASA's ARTEMIS mission, which has gathered high-fidelity measurements of the shock waves.
A subsurface ocean of water ice may lie beneath Pluto's heart-shaped region, aligning almost exactly opposite its moon Charon. The existence of this ocean solves a longstanding puzzle and provides an explanation for the planet's gravitational tug-of-war with its moon.
A new research paper suggests that the impact that formed the moon also caused calamitous changes to Earth's rotation and tilt. The model indicates that the remaining anomalies in the moon's orbit are relics of the Earth-moon system's explosive past, with a large tilt of up to 80 degrees.
A new theory proposes a single high-energy collision as the origin of the Moon's formation, explaining its unusual composition and orbit. The alternative model suggests that the Moon condensed from the same material as Earth, resulting in their similar chemical makeup.
Two studies based on GRAIL data provide clearer pictures of the Orientale impact basin, one of the largest and youngest craters on the Moon. The studies reveal that the transient crater has a smaller diameter than previously thought and estimate a minimum amount of material redistributed from the lunar crust during the impact.
Scientists used GRAIL data to create a computer model that recreated the rings' formation, revealing new details about the interior structure of Orientale. The team estimates that about 816,000 cubic miles of rock was blasted away during the collision.
Researchers have tracked 48 volcanic hotspots on Io's surface over a 29-month period, capturing heat coming off active eruptions and lava flows. The observations reveal that most eruptions occur on the trailing face of Io, with some appearing to progress across the surface over time.
Researchers found that the moon's uppermost surface materials are completely turned over in approximately 80,000 years, much faster than previously estimated. This discovery has significant implications for future human exploration and development of the Moon.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have imaged what may be water vapor plumes erupting off the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. The observation increases the possibility that missions to Europa may be able to sample its ocean without having to drill through miles of ice.
A recent study using precise potassium isotopic data confirms the Moon was formed from a violent impact that vaporized Earth's mantle and mixed it with the impactor. This challenges the giant impact hypothesis, which had trouble matching geochemical signatures between Earth and Moon.
A study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found a higher prevalence of heart abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy, among triathletes who died during the swim portion of competitions. This suggests a plausible link between immersion pulmonary edema and swimming-related deaths in endurance athletes.
A study by University of Tokyo researchers found a statistically significant increase in cow births during near full and full moon phases. The study suggests that cows may be a suitable model for studying the lunar cycle's impact on animal births, with further research needed to confirm results.
Phobos' unique orbit and weak interior structure make it prone to tidal stresses that cause fracturing and linear grooves. Researchers found anomalous grooves are caused by impacts, with debris recaptured and falling back onto the surface in a linear chain.
A new study estimates that the asteroid that formed the Moon's Imbrium Basin was likely a protoplanet-sized object, two times larger in diameter and 10 times more massive than previous estimates. The research also sheds light on the geological features surrounding the basin, which help explain some of its puzzling characteristics.
A NASA camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite captured a view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth for the second time in a year. The images were taken using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and show the moon crossing over the Indian and Pacific oceans.
New research from AGU explores the effects of The Blob and El Niño on West Coast productivity, while a Jovian moon dust study may aid future space missions. Meanwhile, a Sahara Desert study reveals electric forces lifting 10 times more dust into the air than winds alone.
Researchers have discovered a chemical trail on Saturn's moon Titan that could indicate the presence of prebiotic conditions. The trail was found in the form of hydrogen cyanide, an organic chemical that can react with itself or other molecules to form long chains called polyimine.
Scientists have discovered a dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the largest and brightest known Kuiper Belt Objects. The discovery provides insights into the origin and evolution of our solar system, suggesting that giant collisions are a near-universal fixture in the histories of these distant worlds.
Scientists at SwRI discovered two geologically young craters, one 16 million and the other between 75-420 million years old, in the Moon's darkest regions. The discovery was made possible by a new technique using the Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
A computer model simulates the formation of Io's mountains through the compression of rocks due to volcanic activity. The study suggests that this mechanism could have operated on early Earth, explaining why mountains like those on Io might have emerged first as land.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory found that Europa's ocean could have a comparable balance of hydrogen and oxygen to Earth's oceans, suggesting the presence of a habitable environment. This discovery draws attention to the complexity of Europa's rocky interior and its potential for supporting life.
Researchers studied 5812 children from five continents to determine if lunar phases affect sleep duration, with a significant 1% decrease in full moon nights. The study found no substantial impact on behavior, contrary to folklore and myths.
Astronomers discover a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake, the second brightest icy dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. The moon's diameter is estimated to be 100 miles across and its orbit completes around Makemake in 12 days or longer.
Scientists discover that Europa's tidal dissipation process generates significantly more heat in its ice than previously assumed. This finding has implications for estimating the thickness of the moon's outer shell and understanding the chemistry of the hidden ocean, which is crucial for searching for life.
A new study published in Nature reports that Earth's moon slowly moved from its original axis around 3 billion years ago. The discovery was made possible by analyzing NASA data indicating lunar polar hydrogen, which is presumed to be ancient ice hidden in craters surrounding the moon's poles.
Five studies on New Horizons' flyby of Pluto uncover a wide variety of geological features, including tectonics, glacial flow, and cryovolcanoes. The dwarf planet's interaction with the solar wind and icy surfaces also provides insights into its space environment.
Physics students at Umeå University are developing an instrument to measure the electric field of the lunar surface, a first for the Moon. The project aims to provide more knowledge about the electric field, crucial for future missions to the Moon and other celestial bodies.
The MAVEN mission collected data from a close approach to Martian moon Phobos, providing spectral images of the moon's surface. The observations will help scientists understand the moon's origin, comparing it to asteroids and meteorites.
A study suggests that sildenafil can reduce pulmonary edema caused by swimming in cold water, a condition known as SIPE. Athletes who take the drug before competitions have successfully completed triathlons and ultra events without incidents.
New University of Washington research shows that the lunar forces affect the amount of rain on Earth, though very slightly, with a change of about 1 percent of total rainfall variation. The effect is due to the moon's gravitational tug causing higher air pressure and increasing temperature, making it less favorable for precipitation.
Researchers use oxygen isotope analysis to confirm Earth and moon had similar chemical composition after collision, suggesting a head-on impact. The study also suggests the early Earth may have lost water due to subsequent asteroid collisions.
Researchers found that marine creatures in Arctic fjords migrate vertically by moonlight to avoid predators, and this behavior is observed across the entire Arctic. The lunar cycle drives these migrations, with zooplankton sinking to depths of 50 meters every 29.5 days during full moon.
The Chang'e-3 mission provided 'ground truth' for lunar volcanism, with basalts found to be unlike those returned by Apollo and Luna missions. The findings suggest the Moon's upper mantle is composed of diverse minerals, providing clues to its formation and evolution.
A rare full moon will occur on December's Full Cold Moon, marking the first time since 1977. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been studying the lunar surface since 2009 and is currently orbiting Earth's moon.
Researchers confirm that Ancient Egyptian texts describe astronomical phenomena, including the discovery of Algol's period, three millennia earlier than previously thought. The brightest phases of Algol and the Moon had positive meanings for the Ancient Egyptians.
Researchers at Concordia University found that students can improve their thinking and learning with Reflective Writing and interactive activities. Flipping the classroom on its head allows students to explore concepts before class and collaborate with peers, leading to better understanding and approach to learning.
Phobos will likely break apart and form a ring around Mars due to tidal forces. The debris from Phobos will continue to orbit Mars for millions of years before eventually colliding with the planet.
Scientists have detected a monstrous new cloud of frozen compounds in the moon's low- to mid-stratosphere, peaking at an altitude of about 124 miles. This discovery provides insight into the nature and severity of Titan's winter, which is expected to be harsher than its northern counterpart.
NASA scientists have found that Phobos' surface features long, shallow grooves, likely early signs of structural failure. The moon's interior may be a rubble pile with a powdery regolith layer, making it prone to stress fractures and eventual destruction.
Lunar rocks are depleted in volatile elements like potassium, sodium, and zinc. The Moon formed from an Earth-orbiting disk of vapor and molten matter, with the inner disk melt being preferentially deposited onto the Earth rather than the growing Moon.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate stress in bedrock, enabling predictions of fracture locations and landslides. The study reveals topography above ground influences weathering below the surface, improving understanding of geological processes.
A NASA team analyzed seven Apollo samples and found amino acids at low concentrations, likely from terrestrial sources. Isotopic analysis and molecular orientation revealed a stronger connection to Earth than previously thought, ruling out the solar wind and lunar module exhaust as sources.
Researchers cast doubt on lunar impact date methods by analyzing meteorite-impact zircons, suggesting contextual information loss upon separation from host rocks. This may affect our understanding of the late heavy bombardment on the young Moon, which could influence life's emergence timeline.
A giant mound near the Moon's south pole has been found to be a result of a unique volcanic activity triggered by a colossal impact. The Mafic Mound, standing 800 meters tall and 75 kilometers across, exhibits a different mineralogical composition than the surrounding rock.
A new MIT study proposes refueling on the moon to reduce launch mass for a Martian mission, with the potential to save 68% of cargo. The research suggests that establishing an infrastructure in space could enable sustainable travel between planetary bodies.
Scientists used computer simulation to discover that asteroids can deliver more water to the lunar surface than the cumulative fall of comets over a billion year period. The study found that asteroids contain a significant proportion of water, effectively protected in their crystal lattice of minerals, and can release it when heated.
Scientists have discovered a 'bucket brigade' that brings liquid to Titan's north pole, creating lakes and seas. Meanwhile, NASA's Kepler telescope has opened up possibilities for exoplanet studies. Research also explores abrupt shifts in phenology and vegetation productivity under climate extremes.
A new study finds India's monsoonal rainfall is 12% below average due to El Niño and La Niña fluctuations. Asteroids cause fractures up to 25 kilometers below the moon's surface, according to a Geophysical Research Letters study. Scientists will use a community fleet of drones for Earth monitoring
Researchers using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images discovered thousands of faults on the lunar surface influenced by Earth's gravity, reshaping them. The moon is shrinking due to cooling interior, but tidal forces from Earth also play a role in forming and realigning these faults.