The University of Würzburg's SONATE-2 nanosatellite is designed to test novel artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and software technologies in near-Earth space. The satellite aims to automatically detect anomalies on planets or asteroids, with the goal of improving planetary exploration and research.
Researchers found a rare pathway allowing a moon fragment to reach Earth's quasi-satellite orbit. The study suggests that many more lunar fragments remain to be discovered among the near-Earth asteroid population.
Two new species of primitive carnivorous dinosaurs, belonging to the Abelisauridae family, have been discovered in Morocco. The findings suggest that dinosaurs thrived in North Africa until their mass extinction by an asteroid 66 million years ago, providing a diverse picture of African dinosaurs from the end of the age of dinosaurs.
A team of researchers has successfully tested a new asteroid detection algorithm, HelioLinc3D, which identified its first 'potentially hazardous' asteroid, 2022 SF289. The discovery confirms the algorithm's effectiveness in finding near-Earth asteroids with fewer and more dispersed observations than traditional methods.
The Aeolus satellite is conducting a controlled reentry, involving extensive scientific experiments led by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS). Key findings include tests on vertical winds and the ATLID lidar, which will be replicated on the EarthCARE satellite.
A joint research team from Northeastern University and the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a novel 21-cm forest probe to shed light on dark matter and the early formation of galaxies simultaneously. By measuring the one-dimensional power spectrum of the 21-cm forest, scientists can di...
A new study reveals humans' ancestors co-existed with dinosaurs for a brief period before the K-Pg mass extinction. The research used fossil data to estimate placental mammal evolution and diversification rates after the asteroid impact.
Princeton researchers used data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe to determine that a catastrophic event, such as a high-speed collision or gaseous explosion, likely created the Geminids meteoroid stream. This is in contrast to most meteor showers, which originate from comets emitting tails of ice and dust.
A team of researchers at IISc has designed a small molecular fluorogenic probe that can sense Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme linked to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The probe is designed to detect AChE levels in the early stages of the disease, which become imbalanced.
Researchers found tiny salt crystals in an asteroid sample, indicating the presence of liquid water. The discovery challenges previous assumptions that ordinary chondrite asteroids lack hydrated minerals.
A new study reveals that asteroid Dinkinesh is remarkably small, making it the smallest asteroid to be approached by Lucy. It is a stony, S-type asteroid composed mainly of silicates and some metal.
A new study found that reflecting on a teacher's personal mission increases their growth mindset, leading to improved motivation and job satisfaction. The intervention involves a brief reflection on why the teacher wants to make a difference for students.
The telescope has imaged three nested belts extending up to 14 billion miles from the star, with inner belts revealed for the first time. The discovery provides insights into the structure of exoplanetary systems and the formation of planets.
NASA solar observatories have discovered that asteroid Phaethon's comet-like tail is not composed of dust, but rather sodium gas. The findings contradict previous theories and suggest a new explanation for Phaethon's behavior, which is the source of the annual Geminid meteor shower.
Scientists found that oxocarbon-based dyes have intermediate electronic configurations between closed-shell and open-shell forms. The study reveals that longer wavelengths of near-infrared light absorption increase the contribution of open-shell forms in the dye.
Scientists have detected uracil and nicotinic acid in asteroid Ryugu samples collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. The discovery suggests that important building blocks for life were created in space and delivered to Earth via meteorites, supporting current theories on the source of nucleobases.
The ESO VLT observed the aftermath of the DART impact, showing that the ejected cloud was bluer than the asteroid itself, indicating fine particles. The team found no signs of ice or DART spacecraft propellant, but detected changes in light polarization suggesting altered surface composition.
The DART mission observed a 33-minute change in the orbit of Dimorphos, indicating that ejecta escaped the system and contributed to the orbital changes. The team will use this data to understand how the entire system's orbit changes over time.
The Politecnico di Milano has successfully contributed to the DART mission, a historic planetary defense test that deflected an asteroid's trajectory. The mission's scientific results reveal the effectiveness of kinetic impact technology in planetary defense and provide insights into the structure and evolution of binary asteroids.
The Hubble movie reveals surprising hour-by-hour changes as dust and chunks of debris were flung into space. The dynamic interaction within the binary system starts to distort the ejecta pattern, forming rotating pinwheel-shaped features tied to the gravitational pull of Didymos.
Citizen scientists from Unistellar network observe and analyze NASA's DART impact, supporting the efficiency of kinetic impactor technique to deflect asteroids. The study confirms the success of planetary defense methods, making significant contributions to humanity's quest to understand the universe.
The DART mission successfully deflected the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos by 33 minutes. The team's calculations showed that the momentum transferred to Dimorphos was significantly enhanced by the recoil created from streams of particles produced by the impact, exceeding initial expectations.
The DART mission successfully demonstrates the feasibility of redirecting near-Earth objects like asteroids to prevent large-scale destruction. The spacecraft's impact on Dimorphos, a small asteroid moon, resulted in an orbital change that confirms the viability of asteroid deflection as a planetary defense strategy.
Researchers at Tohoku University analyzed samples from Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft and identified what they believe may be the oldest solids from the solar system. The grains were likely transported outward from the inner regions of the early solar system to their current location in the outer reaches.
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 at the University of Jena have solved a decades-long puzzle by studying quartz samples under extreme pressure. They discovered that characteristic lamellae, which are often used to detect asteroid impacts, form when quartz transforms into a more tightly packed phase under high pressure.
Researchers developed a magnetic microrobot that can quantify both cell stiffness and traction, revealing new insights into cellular processes. The study found that malignant tumors do not alter their tractions regardless of surrounding tissue stiffness, challenging common perceptions about cancer progression.
Researchers discovered that asteroid Itokawa is resistant to collision and has survived for nearly 4.2 billion years due to its rubble pile composition. This finding could lead to more effective defense strategies against potentially hazardous asteroids, including the use of nuclear blasts to nudge them off course.
Researchers analyzing Ryugu asteroid samples found minerals produced through water reactions over 4.5 billion years ago, providing insight into the solar system's infancy. The discovery sheds light on asteroid accretion and the formation of planets like Earth.
Researchers recreated interstellar cloud and asteroid conditions to understand how carbonaceous chondrites acquired amino acids, finding that interstellar cloud conditions are resilient to asteroid processing but influence the amount of amino acids present.
Researchers have developed a novel near-infrared light detection method using core-shell lanthanide nanoparticles to convert weak near-infrared light to visible light with high efficiency. This achievement promotes the proposal of a new resource- and energy-saving near-infrared light detection method, improving optical sensor sensitivi...
A new study suggests that an orbiting space probe could provide definitive answers about the presence of life on Enceladus' ocean. The team mapped out how a hypothetical mission could gather data from the moon's plumes, which are thought to contain organic molecules and methane.
Researchers studied asteroid Ryugu's surface composition using X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy and electron microscopy. They found dehydrated serpentine minerals and a water-rich interior, suggesting space weathering plays a key role in asteroid evolution.
New research on asteroid samples from Ryugu reveals similarities to Ivuna-like carbonaceous chondrites, providing a better understanding of the early solar system. The study also sheds light on the accretion of volatiles during planetary formation and finds that Ryugu-like material accounts for ~5-6% of Earth's mass.
A landmark study provides the strongest evidence yet that dinosaurs were in their prime when a deadly asteroid hit, leading to their mass extinction. The research shows that mammals diversified their diets and adapted to environments, creating advantages that helped them survive the disaster.
A Martian megatsunami was likely triggered by an asteroid collision similar to the Chicxulub impact that led to mass extinctions on Earth. The crater formed as a result of this impact may have caused a tsunami that reached over 1,500 kilometres from the center, measuring up to 250 meters tall on land.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that small asteroids are probably young because of their loose internal structure and low cohesion. This finding has important implications for understanding the geological development of asteroids.
Researchers from Osaka University have successfully detected carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in samples from near-Earth asteroid Ryugu using muon non-destructive analysis. The findings suggest that CI chondrites may be contaminated with terrestrial materials, challenging previous understanding of the solar system's chemical compositions.
Researchers have developed a unique anapole probe to measure photonic spin structures, enabling advancements in spin photonics. The probe can characterize topological spin properties associated with magnetic fields, opening doors for applications like data storage and metrology.
The SwRI experiment helped predict the effects of NASA's DART impact on asteroid Dimorphos. The study assessed ejecta momentum enhancement created by the space probe's collision, measuring a 3.4-fold increase in momentum transfer.
An international team has discovered three near-Earth asteroids, including one that is 1.5 kilometers wide and may someday threaten Earth's path. The observations were made possible by the unique capabilities of the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.
The study includes 191 asteroids' radar cross sections and Doppler-frequency broadening, offering clues to asteroids' spin periods and sizes. The research also discovered two metal-rich near-Earth asteroids and five possible enstatite-rich asteroids, shedding new light on the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Researchers have developed a method to map an asteroid's interior structure based on its spin changes during close encounters with Earth. This technique, called AIME, could help scientists plan more effective defense strategies for asteroids like Apophis, which poses a significant hazard if it were to make impact.
The Chang'E-5 mission returned samples that revealed a previously unknown iron-rich and high-calcium surface of basalts, challenging previous assumptions about the lunar geology community. The samples were primarily composed of pyroxene, contradicting earlier studies that indicated a high abundance of olivine.
A new surveillance constellation concept aims to detect and track near-Earth asteroids, providing early warning and tracking capabilities. The system consists of six space-based surveyors and a mothership, which work together to monitor the orbits of potentially hazardous asteroids.
Researchers have identified a potential source of shock-darkened meteorites, which could explain discrepancies in how near-Earth asteroids are classified. The asteroid, 1998 OR2, is about 1.5 miles wide and shows characteristics that suggest it has undergone shock darkening.
A new study suggests that the Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered a massive tsunami that scoured the ocean floor thousands of miles away from the impact site. The tsunami was estimated to be up to 30,000 times larger than the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake tsunami.
A joint research team has proposed a method for densely storing data using a sharp probe, enabling polarization switching with minimal force. The result shows a significant increase in storage capacity, reaching up to 1 terabit per square centimeter.
The SATEX project aims to investigate the feasibility of scientific missions with nanosatellites in extraterrestrial space, focusing on technical possibilities and user needs. The research will prioritize activities and develop concrete proposals for possible national missions.
A Curtin-led research team found asteroid impacts on the Moon millions of years ago coincide with large meteorite impacts on Earth, such as the one that wiped out dinosaurs. The study also reveals that major impact events on Earth were accompanied by smaller impacts, providing new insights into asteroid dynamics.
Researchers used the Advanced Photon Source to study asteroid fragments from Ryugu, finding they were made of water and carbon dioxide ice. The analysis suggests the asteroid formed over 4 billion years ago in the outer solar system, with a hydrated interior and dryer surface.
The analysis of particles from asteroid Ryugu has revealed a high carbon content, similar to the Sun, and the presence of rare earth metals in concentrations 100 times higher than elsewhere in the solar system. The findings suggest that Ryugu originated from a parent asteroid formed in the outer solar nebula.
Researchers used muon beams to analyze Asteroid Ryugu samples, finding essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. However, the oxygen abundance relative to silicon was 25% less than expected, suggesting contamination after atmospheric entry.
The Europlanet Science Congress 2022 will feature press briefings on the ESA Hera Mission, which investigates Binary Asteroid (65803) Didymos and the DART Crater. The event will also cover solar system observations with the Webb space telescope.
Researchers analyzed organic remnants from four small asteroid impact craters in Estonia and Poland to identify a unique charcoal signature. This signature can help scientists predict the size and type of evacuation zone necessary before an asteroid impact, potentially leading to the discovery of new impact craters.
Research team analyzes impact craters to understand environmental effects of small asteroid collisions. They found distinctive charcoal assemblages, suggesting that fragments of trees shattered by impacts were intermixed with local material ejected from the crater.
Scientists have developed a new method to distinguish between normal land structures and small asteroid craters by analyzing charcoal samples, revealing 30% of impact sites remain unlocated. The study found unique characteristics in impact charcoals that differ from wildfire charcoals.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge's CSER highlight the need for improved surveillance and public education to mitigate the impact of volcanic eruptions. The risk of a magnitude seven explosion in the next 100 years is one-in-six, with potential consequences including abrupt climate change and collapse of civilizations.
Researchers found compact fragments in the Aguas Zarcas meteorite that wouldn't break apart, leading to CT scans revealing deformed rocks with the same orientation. The team proposed a hypothesis that asteroids 'spit out' pebbles due to high-speed collisions and thermal cycling, which can cause rock brittleness.
Research on asteroid 2008 TC3 reveals that larger meteorites survived to the ground, contradicting previous assumptions about interior shielding. The study's findings provide new insights into asteroid fragmentation and the origins of space rocks.