Scientists at NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have captured the rare alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth. During this event, a partial solar eclipse was visible from parts of Africa and Antarctica, providing a unique opportunity to study the effects of these celestial alignments.
New NASA research implies that oceans beneath the crusts of tidally stressed moons may be more common and last longer than expected. Fluid tides in a subterranean magma ocean on Io could produce surface heat patterns observed on the moon.
Scientists found regions on the far side of the moon with fractured and porous upper crusts, altered by small asteroid impacts. The research suggests that these impacts increased porosity in some areas, while decreasing it elsewhere.
Scientists from Brown University and Carnegie Institution for Science have identified the volatile gas that drove lunar fire fountain eruptions, a type of eruption that occurs frequently in Hawaii. The gas is found to be carbon monoxide (CO), which combined with oxygen to form, responsible for the fire fountains that sprayed volcanic g...
The LADEE spacecraft has confirmed the presence of neon in the lunar atmosphere for the first time, finding it to be relatively abundant. The moon's thin atmosphere is composed mostly of helium and argon, with neon levels varying by time of day.
A NASA camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth. The images show the fully illuminated
A new laser ablation resonance ionization mass spectrometry technique has successfully dated an Earth rock analogous to the rocks covering one-third of the Moon's nearside. This breakthrough enables direct dating of lunar terrains, filling a critical gap in understanding the Solar System's history.
A new study published by the MOON Knee Group found that patients with stable meniscus tears did not require reoperation after ACL reconstruction, with only 7.7% needing treatment over six years. The research confirmed that smaller, stable tears can be left alone without compromising outcomes.
Researchers found that Titan's atmosphere loses hydrocarbons and nitriles due to a polar wind powered by sunlight and the Saturnian magnetic field. This phenomenon has been observed on Earth in polar regions, suggesting Titan may have a similarly widespread 'polar wind' beyond its poles.
A CU-Boulder-led study has discovered a permanent, lopsided dust cloud enveloping the moon. The cloud is composed of tiny dust grains kicked up by high-speed interplanetary dust particles, and its density increases during annual events like the Geminid meteor showers.
Scientists have long suspected sulphur in the Earth's core but now have conclusive geochemical evidence confirming its presence and estimating its vast quantity. The discovery lends weight to the theory that the Moon was formed by a planet-sized body colliding with the Earth.
Researchers discovered a novel self-repair mechanism in moon jellyfish, where injured animals regain symmetry through resymmetrization rather than tissue regeneration. This process relies on mechanical forces and viscoelastic properties of the jellyfish's body material to rebalance the unbalanced forces.
Astronomers analyzed Hubble data to find that Nix and Hydra are in chaotic rotation around Pluto. The system's dynamic motion offers insights into binary star systems and potential consequences for life.
A NASA spacecraft will use radar equipment developed in Antarctica to scan Europa for potential water plumes and habitable conditions, driven by evidence of an ocean beneath the thick ice cover.
Researchers at Brown University propose that comet collisions may have formed lunar swirls through the scouring of loose soil. Computer simulations suggest that impacts from cometary comas can produce bright streaks on the moon's surface.
A CU-Boulder instrument, SUDA, has been selected for a NASA mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa to measure surface particles and study the moon's hidden ocean. The mission aims to understand the prerequisites of life in the solar system.
NASA has selected two Southwest Research Institute instruments, a mass spectrometer and ultraviolet spectrograph, to investigate Jupiter's fourth-largest moon, Europa. The mission will explore potential life in the outer solar system and study the moon's subsurface ocean.
The CODEX device will allow unmanned rovers to determine the age of rocks on the Moon and Mars by analyzing radioactive elements. This technology has major implications for understanding the history of the inner solar system, including the duration of bombardment and volcanism.
A team of scientists has developed a new chemical model to determine the pH of Enceladus' ocean, finding it to be salty and alkaline with a pH of 11-12. This suggests that serpentinization, a geochemical process, could have created conditions suitable for life on the moon.
A NASA-funded SwRI-led research team independently estimated the Moon's age as 4.47 billion years based on shock signatures found in stony meteorites originating from the Main Asteroid Belt. This study provides insights into the last stages of planet formation in the inner solar system.
Scientists have found a record of the ancient Moon-forming giant impact observable in stony meteorites. The team used data analysis and numerical modeling work to infer the Moon formed about 4.47 billion years ago.
A new study by University of Washington astronomer Benjamin Charnay and co-authors proposes that violent methane storms high in Titan's dense atmosphere could be the answer to the moon's eastward-sloping sand dunes. The storms produce strong gusts much faster than Titan's usual winds, dominating sand transport and realigning the dunes.
Researchers at University of Maryland generate new isotopic fingerprint of the moon, reconciling accepted model with surprisingly similar Earth and moon fingerprints. The findings suggest a thorough mixing of debris before forming the moon, supporting an explosive and interconnected past.
A UCLA professor of planetary astronomy confirms that the timing of human births and hospital admissions is not influenced by the lunar cycle. The study highlights the persistence of flawed beliefs despite evidence, attributed to confirmation bias, and societal costs including measles outbreaks.
New observations show that Jupiter's auroral glow sometimes flares up due to a process unrelated to the Sun. The giant planet's polar auroras are powered by a separate interaction between Jupiter and its moon Io, causing intense electric fields at Jupiter's poles.
Researchers used data from NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft to map the radioactive element thorium from an unnamed volcano in the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex. The study found debris from the eruption spread over a vast area, comparable to Scotland's size.
Researchers found that iron vaporization at high pressures can create an iron-rich rain that blankets the forming Earth, explaining the iron pockets in the mantle. This process challenges traditional core formation theories and changes our interpretation of geochemical data.
Scientists confirm an underground saltwater ocean on Ganymede, estimated to be 60 miles thick and buried under a 95-mile crust of ice. This discovery could open up possibilities for life beyond Earth and is made possible by the unique capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
A team of scientists suggests that hydrothermal processes at the rock-water boundary could produce methane in Enceladus' ocean. Analyzing Cassini data, they propose two possible explanations for the moon's methane abundance: one involving hydrothermal activity and another based on ice formation/melting cycles.
A new study by a team of Cassini mission scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder has found evidence of hydrothermal activity on Enceladus, a Saturn moon with remarkable geologic activity. The tiny grains of rock detected near Saturn imply that seawater infiltrates and reacts with a rocky crust, emerging as a heated, minera...
Researchers used the Sandia National Laboratories Z-machine to recreate Earth's formation conditions, finding that iron vaporizes at a lower shock pressure than previously thought. This process could have led to more iron being mixed into the Earth's mantle, potentially affecting the Moon's composition due to its reduced gravity.
The Anderson Algorithm increases surgical success in advanced ovarian cancer by providing a personalized approach to surgery, resulting in high complete resection rates of over 86%. This milestone is strongly tied to improved survival outcomes for patients.
New satellite-based estimate reveals phosphorus transport from Saharan Desert to Amazon rainforest over multiple years. Researchers also investigate human and robotic missions to the Moon, potentially uncovering solar system origins.
A team of researchers has refined the timeline of meteorite impacts on the moon by analyzing argon isotopes in Apollo 17 samples using laser microprobe technology. The study provides new insights into the lunar impact record and its implications for understanding Earth's early bombardment history.
Texas-based Shackleton Energy Company plans to mine lunar water ice and convert it into rocket propellant, with Moon Express also interested in using the resource as fuel. Meanwhile, China is making headway in mining rare-earth elements on the Moon, sparking interest in establishing a human settlement.
Researchers at MIT and Purdue University have found that meteorites are not building blocks of planets, but rather byproducts of a violent planetary process. Computer simulations show that large moon-sized bodies likely existed before chondrules formed, which were then created by collisions of these bodies.
A team of researchers from the University of Florida has developed a process to convert human waste into rocket fuel, producing 290 liters of methane per crew per day. This anaerobic digester process can also produce non-potable water and hydrogen, offering a sustainable solution for space missions and potentially on Earth.
Astronomers using Cassini data infer the presence of a potentially rugby ball-shaped rocky core or sloshing sub-surface ocean in Mimas. The moon's unusual wobble reveals surface displacement of up to 6 kilometers, contradicting predictions of uniform interior structure.
New research suggests the Moon's 'ocean of storms,' Oceanus Procellarum, was formed by ancient rifts in the crust that provided a magma plumbing system. This theory argues against the long-held impact basin hypothesis and provides a new alternative for understanding the region's unique shape and composition.
Researchers from MIT and other institutions found the Procellarum region on the moon's near side was formed by a large plume of magma deep within the moon's interior. The angular outline of the basin could not have been created by an asteroid impact, according to the team.
Researchers studied astronauts' movements in low gravity and found that they could maintain higher speeds while walking on the moon. The team used NASA's DC-9 aircraft to simulate lunar gravity and tested the speed at which walkers transitioned from a walk to a run, discovering an average speed of 1.4m/s, exceeding previous estimates.
A new study suggests that the reason for astronauts falling on the lunar surface might be due to insufficient gravity, which affects perception of 'up'. The study found that a 15% gravity level is needed to influence orientation judgment, close to what's found on the moon.
A University of New Hampshire and NASA study suggests that high-energy particles from solar storms can charge the moon's polar soil, creating sparking and potentially altering its composition. This process could have significant implications for our understanding of planetary surfaces in extremely cold regions.
Researchers propose that high-energy particles from solar storms can create sparking, altering the moon's polar soil and potentially reactivating permanently shadowed regions. This 'breakdown weathering' process could change our understanding of planetary evolution in extremely cold regions.
Physicists from UT Arlington believe following a trail of radio wave emissions may lead them to the discovery of an exomoon. They suggest using detailed calculations about the Jupiter/Io dynamic to look for radio emissions that could indicate moons orbiting an exoplanet.
Three massive volcanic eruptions occurred on Jupiter's moon Io within a two-week period, leading scientists to speculate about their frequency. The eruptions, characterized by 'curtains of fire', suggest that if observed more frequently, many more events might be seen on Io.
A new study by researchers at UC Santa Cruz shows that most of the moon's overall shape can be explained by tidal effects acting early in the moon's history. The results provide insights into the moon's early history, its orbital evolution, and its current orientation in the sky.
Scientists have identified over 200 lunar pits, some of which may lead to caves that future astronauts can use for shelter. The pits, found using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, range in size from 5 meters to over 900 meters and are believed to form when the roof of a void or cave collapses.
Landsat 8 uses monthly lunar scans as a baseline calibration to ensure the accuracy of its land-cover information. The satellite's Operational Land Imager collects data on different wavelengths of light, and the moon's stable surface allows for precise tracking.
A Swedish study found that the full moon affects sleep patterns, with subjects averaging 20 minutes less sleep and more trouble falling asleep during this phase. However, other research has yielded mixed results, with some studies showing no correlation between lunar phases and human sleep.
Researchers found evidence of seasonal cycles on Saturn's moon Titan, with temperature and sunlight driving surface changes. The discovery supports the idea that liquid methane might flow and evaporate in response to changing exposure to sunlight.
A CU-Boulder team printed the first 3D version of 'Goodnight Moon' using 3D printing technology, enabling visually impaired children and their families to explore tactilely. The project aims to represent 2D graphics in a 3D, tactile way on a scale suitable for young children, providing an interactive reading experience.
Scientists observe a mysterious geologic object on Ligeia Mare, the second-largest sea on Saturn's moon Titan, which may be the first observation of dynamic geological processes. The 'Magic Island' is thought to result from changing seasons and could provide insights into Titan's liquid environments.
A Georgia Tech study finds that ultraviolet photons emitted by the sun cause H2O molecules to desorb or break apart on the lunar surface. The presence of useful amounts of water on the sunward side is unlikely due to high probability of removal through UV light absorption.
Despite popular beliefs, a recent Max Planck Institute study of 1,265 volunteers found no correlation between human sleep and lunar phases. The researchers discovered conflicting results may be due to publication bias, which can lead to omitted negative findings.
A NASA-funded study suggests that cracks on Pluto's moon Charon could reveal a past underground ocean. The analysis finds that a high-eccentricity phase in Charon's orbit may have generated large tides, causing friction and surface fractures. This friction would have also caused the tides to slightly lag behind their orbital positions.
Researchers Guillaume Avice and Bernard Marty found the Earth is approximately 60 million years older than previously thought. The team analyzed xenon gas sealed in quartz samples to refine dating techniques and estimate the Moon-forming impact timing, now believed to be around 40 million years after solar system formation.
Astrophysicists at Penn State University have solved the Lunar Farside Highlands Problem, a long-standing mystery about the absence of maria on the far side of the moon. The researchers found that the difference in crustal thickness between the near and far sides is due to the moon's original formation process.
Researchers from Harvard University believe they've found signs of an ancient Earth within the Earth's mantle, challenging the theory of the Moon's formation. They analyzed noble gas isotopes and found significant differences between shallow and deep mantle regions.
Researchers have found elevated levels of oxygen-17 in lunar samples compared to Earth, providing evidence for a giant impact hypothesis. The findings suggest that the Moon formed from debris left over after a massive collision between two proto-planets.