New analysis of data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveals that auroral electric currents are likely responsible for heating Saturn's upper atmosphere. The study provides the most complete mapping yet of temperature and density in a gas giant's upper atmosphere, shedding light on how heat circulates in the region.
Researchers have devised a new three-dimensional model of the heliosphere, breaking down charged particles into two groups to understand its shape. The 'croissant' with a long tail and the beach ball models are now reconciled, revealing a unique shape that splits the difference between them.
A new geochemical model suggests that Enceladus' subsurface ocean may be habitable due to chemical reactions at its seafloor, which could provide energy sources for life. The study reveals a complex core structure with diverse environments, including hydrothermal vents and carbonated rocks.
Researchers analyze Cassini data to study Saturn's ultraviolet auroras and their dynamic processes. The new observations provide unique views of the small-scale structures behind these auroras, revealing similarities with Jupiter's magnetosphere.
The study investigates the physical forces acting on Enceladus that allow the tiger stripe fissures to form and remain in place. The researchers found that the fissures could have formed on either pole, but the south pole's unique deformation led to their formation.
Researchers studied Titan's energy budget over 14 years and found significant seasonal variations. The findings suggest the distance between the sun and Earth may play a role in Earth's energy balance.
A University of Hawaii team has provided answers to key questions about Titan's surface, including the existence of vast longitudinal dunes and dark organics. The researchers used remote sensing data from NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission to study the chemical makeup of these organic dunes.
On Saturn's moon Titan, nitrogen explosions create craters that fill with liquid methane, forming distinctive lakes. The research suggests a pressurized explosion model as the best explanation for these geological features.
Scientists have discovered new compounds and minerals on Saturn's moon Titan, including a co-crystal made of solid acetylene and butane. This finding suggests that the bathtub rings suspected to exist around Titan's hydrocarbon lakes may be formed by these alien crystals.
Researchers used Cassini's closest observations to study Saturn's rings, revealing three distinct textures and tiny moons within the rings. The study also found streaky textures and large boulders, which may be fragments of broken objects or formed through accretion processes.
Researchers found that Mimas' migration into the Cassini Division pushed apart ice particles, creating the 4500 km wide band. The moon's orbit may have been driven by orbital resonance with Saturn, causing it to lose energy and migrate inwards.
Dr. Kelsi Singer has been awarded the 2019 Harold C. Urey Prize for her outstanding contributions to planetary research, particularly in impact cratering and the geology of icy worlds. Her work has revealed insights into the collisional history of the Kuiper Belt and planetesimal formation.
A new study using the PlanetNet algorithm provides unprecedented precision in analyzing Saturn's storm clouds, revealing features previously undetected. The analysis of Cassini data reveals atmospheric processes driving the storms, including dark cloud material swept up from lower atmosphere.
Researchers from UCL and University of Arizona developed a 'deep learning' approach called PlanetNet to detect storms on Saturn. The algorithm accurately maps the components and features in turbulent regions, revealing previously undetected atmospheric features such as ammonia ice clouds.
Scientists will study Uranus and Neptune's poorly understood regions with greater accuracy using a new, improved net flux radiometer. The instrument, developed for NASA's Planetary Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations program, features thermopile sensors and seven infrared channels to measure heat.
The Cassini spacecraft gathered data on five small moons close to Saturn's rings, revealing no volatiles other than water ice. The moons' geology was shaped by complex processes, including tidal stresses, with optical properties influenced by contamination from the main rings and ring material.
The latest data from Juno and Cassini spacecraft has challenged existing theories on planetary formation and behavior, revealing new insights into Jupiter and Saturn's magnetic fields and atmospheres. Surprisingly, the atmosphere is evenly mixed, contradicting conventional predictions.
The CASSINI Trial found that while there was no significant reduction in venous thromboembolism or death over 180 days, cancer patients taking rivaroxaban had a lower incidence of these events while on the drug or during the treatment period.
Saturn's ring system acts as a sensitive seismograph to measure the giant planet's vibrations, enabling scientists to determine its rotation rate. Researchers used wave patterns in the rings to probe Saturn's interior, obtaining the first precise determination of its rotation rate.
A recent study using Cassini data estimates Saturn's ring mass to be around 40 percent of the moon Mimas' mass, indicating a relatively young age for the rings. The discovery also provides insight into Saturn's internal structure and atmospheric circulation patterns.
New gravity field data reveal Saturn's rings are significantly younger than the planet, with ages estimated at 10-100 million years. The findings contradict previous assumptions and shed light on the formation of Saturn's ring system.
A new study from the American Geophysical Union confirms evidence of rainfall on Titan's north pole, providing insight into the moon's changing seasons. The findings suggest that sunlight reflecting off a wet surface likely resulted in the observed reflective feature.
ORNL's automated plutonium-238 production increased annual output from 50g to 400g, moving closer to NASA's goal of 1.5kg/year by 2025. The lab also developed a novel cryogenic memory cell design that may boost storage while using less energy in future computing applications.
Researchers found that Saturn's iconic rings are losing ice particles at a maximum rate, draining an Olympic-sized pool in half an hour. The entire ring system is expected to vanish in 300-100 million years.
Saturn's iconic rings are being pulled into the planet by gravity, draining an Olympic-sized swimming pool in half an hour. The research suggests the ring system will be gone in 300 million years, with some particles also falling onto Saturn's geysers from moon Enceladus.
A team of scientists has found a new way to explain the formation of Saturn's radiation belts, which challenges current theories on electron acceleration. They suggest that Z-mode waves are responsible for energizing electrons in the belt, rather than radial diffusion.
Researchers at UIC aim to recreate Titan's oceanic conditions in a laboratory growth chamber to detect potential biosignatures of life on the moon. They plan to grow microorganisms under high pressure and extreme cold to identify characteristic chemical and biological signatures.
Scott Bolton, associate vice president of SwRI's Space Science and Engineering Division, receives the 2018 American Ingenuity Award from Smithsonian Magazine for his work on NASA's Juno mission. The mission has revealed complex, turbulent structures around Jupiter, including iconic belts and zones, Earth-sized cyclones, and a lumpy mag...
Scientists from Samara University have discovered new chemical mechanisms for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) synthesis at very low temperatures, including -183 C. These findings challenge the prevailing view that PAHs can only form at high temperatures and suggest a possible link to the origin of life in the universe.
SwRI scientists used Cassini's final measurements to detect large influx of materials raining into Saturn's atmosphere, with water and organic compounds falling at rates of up to 10,000 kilograms per second. The discovery has implications for ring evolution and atmospheric chemistry.
Researchers found a tilt of less than 0.01 degrees in Saturn's magnetic field, contradicting the theory that it requires a significant tilt to form. The team also spotted interesting structures near the planet, including a secondary source of magnetism and electric currents flowing between the rings and the planet.
Astronomers successfully collected microscopic material streaming from Saturn's rings using Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer and Radio and Plasma Wave Science instruments. The research reveals that the main component of Saturn's rings is water ice, with tiny silicates also present.
A new study reveals Saturn's innermost D ring is hurling dust grains coated in its chemical cocktail into the planet's upper atmosphere at an extraordinary rate. This infalling material may change the carbon and oxygen content of the atmosphere, prompting questions about the rings' formation and lifespan.
This special issue of Science presents research on Cassini's final transmissions to Earth, revealing new observations and insights into Saturn's atmosphere and rings. The studies found that water, methane, and organic-rich material fall into the planet's atmosphere, modifying its composition and structure.
Scientists at Southwest Research Institute found large, carbon-rich organic molecules emanating from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. The discovery indicates the moon's rocky core and warm water interact to form complex molecules, satisfying key requirements for life as we know it.
A study co-authored by UCLA scientists reveals evidence of water vapor plumes on Europa's surface, providing further support for the possibility of a vast ocean beneath its icy outer shell. The research suggests that there are energy sources in the moon's interior that would be required if life were to develop on Europa.
Researchers re-created a Titan ocean in a laboratory and studied the freezing temperatures of methane and ethane lakes. They discovered that nitrogen in the liquid causes lakes to freeze at lower temperatures than expected, which could be beneficial for the submarine's operation.
A new global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan has opened up new insights into its liquid flows and terrain. The map revealed several new features, including cookie-cutter holes, mountains, and lakes that are at sea level due to hidden sub-surface flow.
A study led by University of Leicester scientist Dr. Leigh Fletcher found that massive northern storms on Saturn can disrupt its equatorial atmospheric patterns, similar to those seen on Earth. The research reveals a link between distant events in a planet's climate system, known as teleconnection.
Cassini spacecraft data reveals Saturn's rings casting shadows in ionized particles, affecting the planet's ionosphere. The dynamic ionosphere is structured on small scales and shows surprising variability, with possible explanations including ring rain, solar radiation, or magnetic field interactions.
Researchers discovered a significant cooling of Titan's polar atmosphere, contradicting model predictions and other celestial bodies. The study attributes this phenomenon to exotic photochemical reactions producing hydrocarbons that cool the atmosphere.
Scientists are planning to build an ambitious submillimeter-wave instrument to study the composition of geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The instrument, SELFI, will measure traces of chemicals in the plumes, potentially revealing clues about the presence of extraterrestrial life and the ocean's chemistry.
NASA has launched a fleet of missions to study the planets in our solar system, revealing unique features of each planet's magnetosphere. Earth's and other magnetospheres deflect charged particles away from the planet, but also trap energetic particles in radiation belts.
Astronomers conclude that Saturn's seven moons - Pan, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Epimetheus, Mimas, and Janus - work together to contain the A ring. The moon's gravitational influence slows down the spreading ring's momentum, creating an edge.
Researchers use digital holographic microscopy to detect microorganisms and evidence of life in Enceladus water plumes. A universal biosignature is also proposed to detect biological systems on ocean worlds like Enceladus.
CU Boulder scientists, led by Professor Larry Esposito, will continue to study Saturn's rings, moons and atmosphere using the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) instrument on the Cassini-Huygens mission. The team has made numerous discoveries, including the detection of oxygen atoms in Saturn's system and water plumes from Enceladus.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the 'ocean worlds' of Europa and Enceladus, adding to previous observations by Galileo and Cassini orbiters. The telescope's high-resolution imagery and spectroscopic analysis will help unravel the mysteries of these moons' subsurface oceans and potential biosignatures.
Scientists confirm the presence of vinyl cyanide on Saturn's moon Titan, suggesting chemical processes analogous to those important for life on Earth. The findings provide insights into Titan's unique environment and potential prebiotic chemistry.
A technique called digital holographic microscopy, which uses lasers to record 3-D images, may be used to spot extraterrestrial microbes on Enceladus. The method could help identify living cells by analyzing motion and chemical composition.
New research on Titan's lakes reveals that most waves reach only about 1 centimeter high, making it a serene environment suitable for safe landing of future probes. The study suggests that the winds are likely low, with patches of smooth and rough surfaces detected.
Scientists detect methanol around Saturn's moon Enceladus using a ground-based telescope, suggesting complex chemical reactions occur in the plume once it's ejected into space. This finding highlights the need for further direct observations by future spacecraft to understand the chemistry of subsurface oceans.
Astronomers from Cornell University and NASA have found evidence that Enceladus' axis has reoriented by about 55 degrees, suggesting an asteroid impact may have triggered the change. The moon's south pole is geologically young and active, while the north pole appears older and covered in craters.
Scientists at Northumbria University and University of Plymouth are developing medical guidelines for astronauts. A systematic review group will pool studies and create comprehensive guidelines that inform operational decisions. The guidelines aim to prevent health changes among astronauts, as well as benefiting terrestrial human health.
Cassini-Huygens mission has fostered dazzling discoveries, including in-depth studies of Saturn's rings, methane lakes on Titan, and hot water plumes from Enceladus. The spacecraft will enter Saturn's atmosphere and vaporize after final ring-dive on September 15.
New data from NASA's Cassini mission, combined with measurements from Voyager spacecraft and IBEX, suggests that the sun's magnetic field creates a rounded heliosphere, rather than a comet-shaped structure. The study reveals that the heliosphere is nearly symmetrical, which could impact how cosmic rays reach the inner solar system.
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.
Researchers measured Saturn's ring brightness and temperatures using Subaru Telescope images. The Cassini Division and C ring appeared brighter in mid-infrared due to thermal emission from warmer particles. However, seasonal changes in the ring opening angle caused variations in their apparent brightness.
Research from NASA's Cassini mission data implies Saturn's moons may have formed from the planet's rings rather than being captured by it, with some moons migrating away at an unexpected rate
Researchers discovered the presence of a white spot on Saturn's equator moving at speeds of 1,600 km/h. The study found that winds increase dramatically with depth, reaching up to 1,650 km/h at 150 km below the surface.