A new study using atmospheric isotopes suggests Io has been volcanically active for its entire 4.57 billion-year history, driven by tidal heating. The findings indicate that Io has lost most of its sulfur through volcanic outgassing and recycling, supporting a long-lived volcanic history.
Researchers led by Jackie Faherty detected methane gas and temperature inversions on W1935, a cold brown dwarf. The findings suggest possible aurorae similar to those on Jupiter and Saturn, possibly due to an active moon.
Researchers find that instruments on future missions can detect cellular material in one out of hundreds of thousands of ice grains, including a common bacterium as a model organism. This breakthrough increases confidence in detecting lifeforms similar to those on Earth.
The DTEP model accurately predicts delayed treatment effects (DTE) in immuno-oncology trials, allowing for optimized trial designs. By tailoring trial lengths, the model enhances statistical power and accelerates immunotherapy development.
The Juno spacecraft has directly measured charged oxygen and hydrogen molecules from Europa's atmosphere, providing key constraints on the potential oxygenation of its subsurface ocean. The findings suggest that oxygen is continuously produced in the surface ice shell, with an estimated 12 kg per second, which could support habitability.
A research team discovered that intense ultraviolet radiation from massive stars can either form planets or prevent their formation. The JWST data showed that a Jupiter-like planet would not be able to form in the Orion Nebula due to rapid photoevaporation, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers developed a novel approach to measuring community personality and found that people in like-minded communities tend to be happier, healthier, and more highly achieving. Communities differ significantly in terms of personality traits, with some counties having high proportions of open-minded or conscientious individuals.
A potential Parkinson's medicine, Syn-RiboTAC, targets RNA to slow or stop disease progression by preventing the buildup of toxic protein alpha-synuclein. In early studies, reducing alpha-synuclein levels by even 25% or more is therapeutically beneficial, with the compound showing good selectivity and improved brain-barrier penetration.
SourceUF Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2024
Researchers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WASP-69b, with a comet-like tail that trails the planet for at least 350,000 miles. The tail is shaped and pushed in the direction of Earth by radiation and an outflow of gas from its host star, providing a rare opportunity to study planetary mass-loss in real time.
Researchers detected complex structure with three concentric rings in the innermost region of the disk, rich in dust and minerals. The discovery suggests two planets may be forming within the gaps, with masses similar to Jupiter.
A team of researchers from Portugal used the ESPRESSO spectrograph to measure wind speeds on Jupiter, confirming the feasibility of Doppler velocimetry for monitoring the planet's atmospheric winds. The study also gathered historical data to compare results and validate the method.
Astronomers have identified a tiny, free-floating brown dwarf with only three to four times the mass of Jupiter using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery provides clues about the star-formation process and helps better understand exoplanets.
Astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to identify the new record-holder: a tiny, free-floating brown dwarf with only three to four times the mass of Jupiter. The discovery provides clues about the star-formation process at very small masses and sheds light on the properties of exoplanets.
The James Webb Space Telescope observed the exoplanet WASP-80 b and detected methane gas and water vapor in its atmosphere. This is the first detection of methane in an exoplanet's atmosphere using space-based spectroscopy.
The James Webb Space Telescope reveals the presence of water vapour, sulfur dioxide, and silicate sand clouds in the atmosphere of WASP-107b. The discovery sheds light on the dynamic atmosphere and potential temperature variations that enable these cloud formations.
New studies show that giant gas planets in nearby star systems can prevent life on smaller, rocky planet neighbors by kicking them out of orbit and wreaking havoc on their climates. Researchers found that four giant planets in the HD 141399 system are likely to destroy the chances for life on Earth-like planets.
A new jet stream has been discovered in Jupiter's upper atmosphere by the James Webb Space Telescope, showing winds reaching speeds of up to 500 km/h. The discovery provides new insights into the atmospheric dynamics of gas giants and could shed light on global temperature variations.
The discovery reveals insights into how the layers of Jupiter's atmosphere interact with each other and how the planet's fast rotation affects the wind patterns. The research team analyzed data from Webb's NIRCam to track the jet stream, which is located around 25 miles above the clouds in Jupiter's lower stratosphere.
Astronomers using James Webb Space Telescope data have identified carbon dioxide on Europa's icy surface, supporting the idea that it originated in the subsurface ocean. The discovery provides crucial insights into the potential habitability of Europa's ocean and may inform future missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper.
Two studies indicate that carbon dioxide (CO2) on Europa's surface was formed within the moon's subsurface ocean and brought to the surface on a geologically recent timescale. The findings provide new insights into the composition of Europa's internal ocean, which is thought to be habitable due to its potential for supporting life.
Researchers have confirmed the presence of chromium hydride in the atmosphere of hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-31b using high-resolution spectral observations. This detection opens the possibility of using chromium hydride as a 'thermometer' to determine the temperature and other characteristics of exoplanets.
Researchers report the discovery of a hot Jupiter-like object orbiting a nearby star, offering insights into extreme planetary and stellar evolution. The binary system's brown dwarf component reveals temperature differences of up to 6,000 degrees between its dayside and nightside hemispheres.
Researchers reviewed techniques for Jupiter capture trajectories, including satellite-aided captures and multiple-satellite-aided captures. They also examined tour trajectories of Galilean moons using patched-conics models and three-body trajectory designs.
Researchers found long-term disruptions in Saturn's atmosphere, caused by past megastorms, which persist for hundreds of years. The study revealed that ammonia gas is being transported from the upper to lower atmosphere via precipitation and reevaporation processes.
Researchers have discovered an unusual Jupiter-sized exoplanet, TOI-4860 b, orbiting a low-mass star in the Corvus constellation. The planet is enriched with heavy elements and takes about 1.52 days to complete its orbit, making it a 'Warm Jupiter'.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected hydrogen peroxide on Ganymede's poles and sulfur monoxide on Io, revealing new secrets about Jupiter's Galilean satellites. These findings suggest that charged particles from Jupiter's magnetosphere can alter the surface chemistry of icy moons.
A team of researchers, including RIT's Joel Kastner, have discovered new evidence of how planets as massive as Jupiter can form through gravitational instability around a young star. The discovery was made using images from the ESO's Very Large Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.
Using ALMA, astronomers have found evidence of a cloud of debris that might be the building blocks of a new planet or the remnants of one already formed. This discovery would confirm the existence of Trojan planets outside our Solar System, which are rocky bodies sharing the same orbit as a planet.
A team led by SwRI and UTSA discovered Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in Jupiter's magnetosphere, enabling the transfer of energy and mass from the solar wind. This process is crucial for understanding the interaction between the solar wind and planetary magnetic fields.
Scientists have developed a new radar technique that can image hidden features within the upper few feet of ice sheets, including melting glaciers on Earth and potentially habitable environments on Jupiter's moon Europa. The technique boosts resolution by combining two different radar bandwidths and looking for discrepancies.
Astronomers from University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy have discovered a Jupiter-like planet, Halla, that survived its host star Baekdu's expansion into a red giant. The study found that the planet persisted despite the normally perilous evolution of the star.
A new study has found that an inflammation-targeting antibody may improve preterm birth outcomes by reducing inflammatory signals in the placenta. The same antibody has also shown promise in preventing obesity-linked fatty liver disease, a condition that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
A recent ASU study suggests that Jupiter's moon Europa may have formed with a slow evolution, which could impact its habitability. The team found that a metamorphic origin for the ocean and delayed metallic core formation may limit hydrothermal activity and seafloor volcanism.
Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope have detected 11 rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76b, a Jupiter-like exoplanet. The presence and relative amounts of these elements provide key insights into giant gas planet formation and may challenge our understanding of how planets like Mercury and Earth formed.
Researchers discovered the abundance of rock-forming elements in WASP-76 b's atmosphere, which matches its host star and our own Sun closely. The team found that certain elements are depleted due to temperature conditions, providing insight into the sensitivity of giant planet atmospheres.
A study by Indiana University astronomer Songhu Wang reveals that at least a fraction of hot Jupiters cannot form through violent processes, suggesting a new understanding of their evolution. Researchers found 12% of hot Jupiters and 70% of warm Jupiters have nearby planetary companions.
Researchers used the NIRISS instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope to create a temperature map of the exoplanet WASP-18 b, revealing a huge temperature change from day to night sides. Water vapor was also detected in the atmosphere at various elevations.
Astronomers have discovered a new temperate exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, with properties similar to those of Earth. The planet is believed to be covered in volcanoes due to tidal heating, which causes heat to build up in its interior.
Researchers have imaged a double-lobed structure resembling Jupiter's radiation belts around an ultracool dwarf, revealing the presence of high-energy electrons trapped in its magnetic field. This discovery provides a new method for assessing the shapes of magnetic fields on brown dwarfs and exoplanets.
Scientists have discovered the first-ever extrasolar radiation belt, orbiting the brown dwarf LSR J1835+3259. The discovery reveals that this magnetic structure is filled with extremely high-energy electrons and charged particles, sparking new questions about the universality of such phenomena.
Ancient Mayans used an 819-day calendar that covered a much larger timeframe than previously thought. By increasing the calendar length to 20 cycles of 819 days, researchers found a pattern emerges in which the synodic periods of all visible planets align with station points in the larger calendar.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet using a combined approach of direct imaging and precision measurements of a star's motion on the sky. The newly found planet, HIP 99770 b, is 14-16 times more massive than Jupiter and orbits just over three times further from its star.
A UTSA-led research team has discovered a new exoplanet using indirect methods. The exoplanet, HIP 99770 b, is about 14 to 16 times the mass of Jupiter and orbits a nearly twice-as-massive star. This breakthrough opens a new avenue for scientists to discover and characterize exoplanets.
Astronomers using JWST discovered that the atmosphere of exoplanet HD149026b, a 'hot Jupiter,' is super-abundant in carbon and oxygen, far above expectations. This finding provides insight into planet formation and suggests that giant planets may have varied atmospheric compositions.
Researchers attribute unusual radar properties to coherent backscatter opposition effect (CBOE) and ice surface irregularities. The CBOE model, improved by Hofgartner and Hand, can explain all icy satellite radar properties.
A recent experiment by UC Riverside astrophysicist Stephen Kane demonstrates that a terrestrial planet in this location would have disastrous effects on the solar system. The simulation found that such a planet could destabilize Earth's orbit, making it far less habitable and potentially ejecting Mercury and Venus from the solar system.
The discovery of TOI-5205b, a Jupiter-sized gas giant, contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The planet's existence raises questions about the role of rocky material in forming massive cores and its potential to form gas giants despite these guardrails.
A team from Heidelberg University discovered a new class of asteroids rich in water, similar to dwarf planet Ceres. The small bodies are thought to have formed in a cold region at the edge of the Solar System before being impacted by gravitational disruptions.
Scientists have discovered a new type of solid crystal that forms when water and table salt combine in cold and high-pressure conditions, potentially existing on the surface of Jupiter's moons. This finding has significant implications for planetary science and the search for extraterrestrial life, as it could explain the mysterious ch...
Researchers at Imperial College London found that around half of Earth's zinc inventory came from asteroids in the outer Solar System, contributing to the emergence of life on Earth. The study suggests that this material supplied other important volatiles like water, crucial for sustaining life.
A team from UNIGE has observed a sample of planets at the edge of the Hot Neptune Desert to understand its creation. They found that most of these planets have an orbit misaligned with the stellar equator, indicating disruptive migration processes.
An international team of scientists suggests that an outward, fast migration of Jupiter can distort the configuration of Trojan swarms, resulting in more stable orbits in one swarm than the other. This new mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed asymmetry in the number of asteroids in the L4 and L5 swarms.
Scientists from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) used data from NASA's Juno spacecraft to observe magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter. The study found accelerated electrons traveling along the magnetic field at Ganymede's magnetopause, indicating the presence of reconnection.
A recent VLA and ALMA study investigated Jupiter's atmosphere and Io's volcanic activity, shedding light on the giant planet's complex dynamics. The research revealed the vertical structure of Jupiter's atmosphere and found high-temperature compounds, including NaCl and KCl, in Io's atmosphere, suggesting differences in subsurface magm...
Astronomers discovered that the building blocks of planets like Jupiter and Saturn form while their parent star is still growing. The study analyzed spectroscopic observations from polluted white dwarfs, which revealed signs of asteroid melting, indicating a rapid process of planet formation.
Researchers have discovered a new abiotic pathway for the formation of oxygen molecules, using sulphur dioxide as a precursor. This process can explain the presence of oxygen in the atmospheres of several Jupiter's moons, including Io, Europa and Ganymede, where biological life is absent.
Scientists have discovered a massive heat wave in Jupiter's atmosphere, extending over 10 Earth diameters and reaching temperatures of 700 degrees Celsius. The heat wave was triggered by solar wind plasma impacting the planet's magnetic field, distributing energy globally around Jupiter.
Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt presents 3D renders of Jupiter's cloud tops using JunoCam data, revealing textured swirls and peaks. The team uses solar illumination to pinpoint elevation, aiming to unveil the chemical composition of the clouds.
A new study suggests that Earth's habitability could increase if Jupiter's orbit becomes more eccentric, leading to parts of the surface warming up and becoming habitable for multiple life forms. The researchers also found that this change in Jupiter's orbit could have implications for the search for habitable planets around other stars.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have proposed a novel origin for Jupiter-like planets around massive stars. Massive stars can capture or steal planets from other stars in densely populated stellar nurseries, a process known as a 'planetary heist'.