Researchers have found evidence of chlorine emissions in the atmosphere of Io, a Jupiter moon with high volcanic activity. The discovery suggests that salt may be present on Io's surface due to chemical reactions or geological processes.
NYU chemist Robert Shapiro challenges existing assumptions about life's universality with a new theory that simple cellular life may arise from organic chemistry and self-organizing systems. He also advocates for continued search for extraterrestrial life in nearby worlds like Mars, Europa, and Titan.
Astronomers used numerical cosmology to study the earliest structures that formed in the universe, finding tiny star clusters containing 1,000-10,000 solar masses. These early clusters were likely the 'spark plugs' that started the formation of galaxies.
Detailed studies of 12 stars with Jupiter-mass planets show concentrations of heavy elements two to three times greater than in the sun. The discovery supports the theory that stars born in heavy-element-enriched clouds are more likely to harbor giant planets.
The Europa Orbiter mission aims to find evidence of a liquid ocean on the moon, which could support life. If confirmed, Europa and Earth would be the only two worlds in the solar system with liquid water.
The ASU geology team is collecting and analyzing data from the Galileo spacecraft, which shows strong evidence of a liquid ocean under Europa's surface. The images transmitted by the spacecraft reveal terrain types similar to an iceberg found on Earth near Europa's surface.
Brown dwarf Cha Ha 1 is the youngest known member of the Chamaeleon dark cloud, with a mass of 4-5% of the Sun's mass and an age of one million years. Its X-ray emission was detected using the ROSAT satellite.
Astronomers will discuss Hubble Space Telescope findings on life in the universe, including environments suitable for life being probably plentiful. They'll also explore Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa, as well as two upcoming NASA missions searching for signs of life elsewhere in the solar system.
The University of Washington is launching a doctoral program in astrobiology, funded by a $2 million NSF grant. Students will study organisms living in extreme conditions on Earth to prepare for finding life on Mars and Europa.
Scientists discover Jupiter's ring system is composed of dust kicked up by meteoroids striking four inner moons, with the outermost ring consisting of two embedded rings. The system provides a unique dynamical laboratory for studying the solar system's early processes.
NASA scientists have discovered an anomaly in Pioneer 10's trajectory, suggesting the spacecraft may be experiencing an unexplained force pulling it towards the Sun. The effect has been observed in multiple Pioneer and Ulysses probes, challenging current theories of gravity.
Scientists at Oregon State University have found evidence of rock-eating microbes living nearly a mile beneath the ocean floor, which could suggest similar life on Mars or other planets. The discovery suggests that conditions similar to those on Mars exist beneath the ocean floor and could support life.
Io's volcanic hot spots reach surface temperatures of over 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, more than double previous measurements. The extreme temperatures suggest a unique process of differentiation and heavy element composition, shedding light on the moon's geological history.
The Stardust mission, launched in February, will be the first mission since Apollo to return samples of space material to Earth for analysis. The spacecraft will encounter Wild 2, a comet that alters course among the inner planets, and trap small particles from its coma.
Researchers found a community of microorganisms thriving in Antarctica's Lake Bonney and several other lakes. The microbes can survive in an environment similar to Popsicles, using sunlight to create pockets of liquid water.
Researchers discovered bacterial colonies thriving in Antarctic ice, surviving on minimal light and water. The findings suggest similar life forms may exist on Mars or Europa, and could provide insights for searching for life beyond our solar system.
Scientists have discovered giant convection cells on the sun, which could play a major role in its rotation and solar activity. These cells are large enough to swallow Jupiter and last for long periods, influencing space weather.
University of Michigan scientists measure how matter changes under extreme pressure using a high-resolution femtosecond laser. The experiment confirms earlier predictions about atom behavior in super-dense environments, providing insight into phase transitions and electron conductivity.
A team at University of Colorado at Boulder has found a faint, doughnut-shaped ring of interplanetary and interstellar dust orbiting Jupiter. The ring is much larger and more sparse than previously detected rings, and most particles in it move in the opposite direction to Jupiter's rotation.
Researchers propose using an electrodynamic tether to propel and power a Europa orbiter, potentially reducing propellant needs and costs. The concept is still in its infancy, with challenges including Jupiter's dynamic environment and the need for sophisticated controls.
A team of scientists has discovered a chain of five craters on two continents, indicating the breakup and subsequent impact of a fragmented comet or asteroid. The impacts may have contributed to one of the five greatest mass extinctions in history, with 80% of species becoming extinct.
Scientists are searching deep ice from the Antarctic for signs of life that could survive in icy conditions, with a focus on Europa. The discovery of liquid water beneath the surface of another moon raises possibilities about potential life on Europa.
Recent data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft suggests that Jupiter's moon Europa may have a slushy ocean beneath its icy surface, with evidence including shallow impact craters and gaps in the ice. The findings support the idea that warmth from tidal forces could be keeping parts of the ocean liquid.
Researchers Mark Boslough and Randy Gladstone suggest that entry of ordinary meteoroids can form dark spots similar to those observed by satellites, contradicting a theory of frequent small comet bombardment. Their study provides evidence for the existence of high-altitude plumes generated by meteors.
The discovery of glowing hydrogen gas on Io, a moon of Jupiter, was made using the Hubble Space Telescope. The findings indicate that hydrogen may be concentrated at the poles in the form of hydrogen sulfide frost, which could be broken up into constituent hydrogen and sulfur atoms with glow.
Astronomers produce high-resolution images of Jupiter's auroras, revealing details about the planet's atmosphere and its moons. The new images, made possible by improved instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope, show comet-shaped swaths of light and a faint electromagnetic footprint from Ganymede.
Researchers use numerical simulations to show connection between Earth's changing shape and gravitational effects of other bodies in the Solar System. The study reveals that changes in the Earth's axial tilt can produce large changes in climate.
Scientists have discovered oxygen locked in ice on Callisto, a moon of Jupiter, with sunlight playing a key role in separating hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Meanwhile, the Galileo team has found that sulfur dioxide emissions from Io are caused by both volcanic activity and frost sublimation.
A University of Colorado at Boulder research team found that Earth is alternately peppered by extremely high-energy electrons from the sun and Jupiter. These 'killer electrons' are accelerated to energies thousands of times higher than usual near Earth, posing a threat to spacecraft and satellites.
The Boston University team successfully captured the first-ever image of Hale-Bopp's three tails, providing new insights into the comet's composition. The team's innovative detector system and modest telescope size allowed them to detect faint signals from sodium gas, which is not visible to the naked eye.
Researchers found cyanogen gas in Comet Hale-Bopp, suggesting the same process controls its evolution regardless of distance from the sun. The discovery supports a key theory explaining how comets release this gas.
Microbial subsurface life is likely to be found on Mars and other planetary bodies in our solar system. The theory proposes that life evolved from the inside out, using rocks for oxygen, and suggests that petroleum has come up from great depths, not from biological sediments.
Researchers outline requirements for habitable moons, including stable orbit and atmosphere retention. Moons in the right position and size could support life on planets like Jupiter's Europa.
Observations by NASA's Galileo spacecraft indicate that UV radiation is breaking down Ganymede's ice into atomic hydrogen and atomic oxygen. This process could lead to the formation of molecular oxygen and ozone, which may be trapped in the ice or form a thin atmosphere above Ganymede's surface.
Astrophysicists at MIT propose that newly discovered planets in Jupiter-sized systems underwent violent instability upon formation. This instability can lead to the ejection of one planet and a smaller, eccentric orbit for another, with potential consequences for planetary system evolution and intelligent life.
Astronomers have detected a thin oxygen atmosphere on Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter's moons. The presence of this atmosphere is similar to that of Earth and Jupiter itself, with evidence suggesting polar aurorae created by charged particles colliding with atmospheric gases.
A new planet has been discovered around the star 16 Cygni B with an orbital eccentricity of 0.6, unlike any other known planet in our Solar System. This extreme oblong shape indicates the planet experiences significant variations in heat energy as it orbits its host star.
Expert researcher Juan Roederer is set to begin his long-awaited study of the radiation belts circling Jupiter after 20 years with the Galileo spacecraft. The research aims to understand how Io, one of Jupiter's moons, affects the planet's radiation belts and compare them to Earth's Van Allen belts.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created a scale model of Jupiter that simulates the banding pattern, lending support to the idea that the atmospheric bands have deep roots. The model's findings are backed by data from the Galileo spacecraft, which shows that wind speeds persist deep into the atmosphere.
A new study led by a University of Colorado astrophysicist suggests that dust grains dominating Jupiter's peculiar ring may have lifetimes of just hours or days. The study indicates the swelling of the inner ring is caused by positive electrical charges on the dust grains resulting from solar radiation.