Researchers have developed a precise method for evaluating the behavior of mixtures under high pressure using X-ray scattering. The study reveals that hot hydrocarbon mixtures in ice giants can produce diamond rain, which generates an additional energy source.
Astronomers detect exoplanet AU Mic b, about the size of Neptune, using NASA's TESS and Spitzer space telescopes. The discovery provides a unique laboratory to study planetary formation and atmospheric interactions with a young star.
Researchers suggest that radioactive elements uniquely distributed after the Moon-forming collision led to the near and far sides' differences. The unique composition of KREEP rocks, linked to radioactively unstable elements, provides a key explanation for the Moon's asymmetry.
Researchers predict novel helium-methane compound He3CH4, stable under high pressure, with unique phase transitions upon heating. The compound's van der Waals interactions facilitate efficient heat transport, affecting a planet's interior and surface temperature.
A team of international researchers has provided a mineralogy lab study for water-rich exoplanets, revealing an unexpected new solid phase with silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The findings suggest that the distinction between water and rock layers in these planets may be 'fuzzy' at high pressure and temperature.
Experiments simulate conditions of Neptune-like exoplanets, suggesting mutual solubility between silica and water. This finding challenges traditional views on the distinction between rock and ice, with potential impact on the study of water-rich planets.
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 explore alternative materials to improve optical fiber's data transmission capabilities, as telecom demands grow. They discovered fluoride glass can transmit light over a wider range of wavelengths, but it is more expensive and brittle.
Using DES data, researchers found more than 300 trans-Neptunian objects, including 245 discoveries made by DES. The method developed by Pedro Bernardinelli can also be used to search for TNOs in upcoming astronomy surveys.
Astronomers at the University of Cambridge discovered a potentially habitable exoplanet, K2-18b, which is 2.6 times the radius and 8.6 times the mass of Earth. The planet's hydrogen-rich atmosphere may allow for liquid water to exist beneath its surface.
A sub-Neptune sized planet, G 9-40b, has been validated as an exoplanet using the HPF at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The discovery confirms the planet's mass and orbits its low-mass host star 100 light years from Earth.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet orbiting a star in just over 18 hours, the shortest orbital period ever recorded. The hot Jupiter, NGTS-10b, is perilously close to its sun and may be spiralling towards destruction.
Researchers analyze cyclical changes in light spectrum emitted by Proxima Centauri and suggest the presence of a second planet. The candidate planet orbits every 5.2 years and may be a 'super-Earth', challenging current models of low-mass planet formation.
A 'cold Neptune' and two temperate super-Earths, GJ180d and GJ229Ac, have been discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars, offering a chance to study potentially habitable worlds. The planets were found using the radial velocity method and offer insights into exoplanet formation and evolution.
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered the first planet to orbit two stars, TOI 1338 b. The exoplanet orbits a binary system consisting of a larger and smaller star, with the latter being only one-third the mass of our Sun.
Astronomers have found evidence of a giant planet surrounding a small, dead white dwarf star, providing insight into the evolution of our own solar system. The discovery suggests that many other planets may be hiding in similar extreme environments.
A new wetsuit material with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers can help reduce injuries from White Shark bites. The study found that the new fabrics were more resistant to puncture, laceration, and bites than standard neoprene.
Researchers confirmed an exoplanet with a mass like Neptune, orbiting a cooler star at a similar radius to Earth's orbit. The discovery suggests Neptune-sized planets could be common in this region.
Researchers have found that white sharks gather in large numbers at seal nurseries, forming persistent communities that persist for years. The study used photo-identification and network analysis to show that the apex predators choose who they hang with, driven by sex-dependent patterns of visitation.
A new technique uses nanoparticles to measure how quickly they move through mucus samples, correlating with COPD severity. The study's findings suggest that the structure of mucus in patients with severe COPD may be distinct and affect particle movement.
Scientists at University College London have discovered water vapor on the potentially habitable exoplanet K2-18b, which orbits a cool dwarf star about 110 light years from Earth. The detection confirms that the planet is in its star's 'habitable zone', where temperatures could support liquid water and life.
Researchers detected water vapor signatures on K2-18b, a planet in the habitable zone around a small red dwarf star. The findings suggest liquid water could pool on its surface if it's terrestrial in nature.
Astronomers have discovered a massive planet three times the size of Jupiter that orbits its star on an egg-shaped path. The planet's unique orbit takes it from within our asteroid belt to beyond Neptune, providing a rare opportunity for scientists to study extreme planetary configurations.
The discovery of TOI-270 includes two sub-Neptunes that could be an intermediate size between Earth and Neptune, providing insights into planetary formation. Astronomers also found a rocky super-Earth with a three-day orbit, adding to the system's potential for studying exoplanet dynamics.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered three new planets orbiting a nearby star, including one slightly larger than Earth. The planets' sizes and masses are unique, with two potentially similar to Neptune in our solar system, offering insights into planetary formation and evolution.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered three new exoplanets, including one rocky planet in the habitable zone, which could potentially support liquid water and life. The newly found planets, TOI-270, are unique in that they occupy a 'missing link' between rocky Earth-like planets and gas-dominant mini-Neptunes.
Researchers have discovered a young exoplanet orbiting one of the brightest young stars known, providing valuable information on planetary body formation. The exoplanet, DS Tuc Ab, is about six times the size of Earth and orbits its main star in just eight days.
Researchers report the discovery of a methane hydrate phase in which water molecules surround and trap methane, remaining stable at pressures up to 150 gigapascals. This phase is similar to those found in the mantles of Uranus and Neptune.
Astronomers observed a massive protostar's gaseous disk for the first time, finding it shares common features with lighter baby stars. The discovery suggests that star formation is the same process, regardless of final mass.
Astronomers have identified the atmospheric composition of a mid-size planet between Earth and Neptune for the first time using NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The planet, Gliese 3470 b, has a large rocky core surrounded by a deep crushing atmosphere mostly composed of hydrogen and helium.
Researchers using ALMA pinpointed a small dust concentration in the disk around TW Hydrae, suggesting a potential planet formation site. The discovery provides valuable insights into the process of planet formation and may help identify the final stage of planetary growth.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team studied the orientation of distant solar system bodies in binary pairs, providing insights into planet formation. Most Kuiper Belt objects (80%) orbit in a prograde direction, contradicting theories on binary formation and supporting the streaming instability hypothesis.
Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology used computer simulations and observations of trans-Neptunian objects to understand how they may have formed. The study found that the size and orbit of satellite systems around large TNOs are best explained by impacts of molten progenitors.
Astronomers have measured the temperature of Uranus' rings for the first time, finding a cool 77 Kelvin. The new images also reveal differences in ring composition compared to Saturn's rings, including lower albedo and narrower widths.
A Neptunian planet, NGTS-4b, discovered using the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) facility, is a small world 20% smaller than Neptune, orbiting its star in just 1.3 days. It has been nicknamed 'The Forbidden Planet' due to its extreme temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Astronomers discover unique infrared signature on Triton, suggesting a mix of carbon monoxide and nitrogen ices. This finding sheds light on conditions on other distant, icy worlds and could provide insights into the origins of life.
The New Horizons spacecraft has revealed a distant Kuiper Belt Object (MU69) as an ancient, untouched relic from the early solar system. The object's flattened bi-lobate shape and discrete geological units indicate a history of gentle collisions.
Researchers investigate Haumea's ring, suggesting a degree of eccentricity is required for resonance to act on particles. They identify stable, circular orbits compatible with the ring, contradicting previous assumptions.
Sub-Neptune exoplanets are likely to be water worlds due to simulations of planetary growth. These planets contain at least 25% water-dominated ices or fluids, rather than gas dwarfs with a rocky core surrounded by a gaseous envelope.
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 TESS mission has discovered its first Earth-sized exoplanet, HD 21749c, which orbits a nearby star in just 7.8 days. The planet is likely a rocky, uninhabitable world with surface temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
The discovery of Kepler-47d, the third planet in the Kepler-47 circumbinary system, sheds light on the formation and composition of low-density planets. The new planet's size and location were unexpected, with it being the largest of the three planets in the system.
The discovery of an Earth-sized planet and a warm sub-Neptune-sized world in the HD 21749 system marks a significant milestone for NASA's TESS mission. The planets have distinct orbital periods, with the sub-Neptune taking 36 days to complete its orbit.
A team of planetary scientists used Hubble images to track the growth of a new Great Dark Spot on Neptune, finding that dark spots originate deeper in the planet's atmosphere than previously thought. The study also revealed that these storms occur with a frequency of every four to six years and last up to six years.
Scientists from HZDR drove shock waves through plastics to simulate planetary conditions and observed crystalline structures at extreme pressures. The discovery may require revised models of Uranus and Neptune's interiors, suggesting less free hydrogen than previously thought.
Researchers have spotted two rings of dust around a young star, suggesting the formation of a planetary system similar to our own. The observations provide clear answers to previous models, with one ring at the asteroid belt location and the other at the Neptune orbit.
Astronomers have discovered a binary star system with PDS 27 and its companion just 4.5 billion km apart, making them the closest high-mass young stellar objects in binaries resolved to date. This discovery provides a valuable laboratory to test theories on high mass binary star formation.
Researchers propose that obliquity is a key factor in the formation of pairs of over-tilting exoplanets, leading to extreme seasons and weather patterns. The study could have significant implications for estimating the structure, climate, and habitability of these planets.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team of scientists have discovered a lack of very small Kuiper Belt objects with crater counts on Pluto's satellite Charon indicating fewer impactors smaller than 1 mile in diameter than predicted. This finding has deep implications for our understanding of the solar system's origin and evolution.
New analysis offers insights into the nature of Planet Nine, estimating its mass as five times that of Earth and orbital semimajor axis of approximately 400 AU. The findings suggest that Planet Nine is likely to be reminiscent of a typical extrasolar super-Earth.
Astronomers found a tiny moon, Hippocamp, around Neptune that shouldn't exist due to gravitational clearance by Proteus. The moon is thought to be a chipped-off piece from Proteus resulting from a comet collision, measuring 20 miles across.
A team of researchers found that hot great white sharks can swim at high speeds when commuting between islands, but prefer slower speeds when hunting for fat seal snacks. The study suggests that the warm-blooded lifestyle of these sharks allows them to conserve energy by using a 'sit-and-wait' strategy.
The Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered new insights into the weather patterns of Uranus and Neptune, revealing dynamic atmospheres with mysterious dark storms. The observations suggest that these storms form in a similar way to Jupiter's Great Red Spot and are driven by seasonal changes.
Astronomers using ALMA have detected complex organic molecules around the young star V883 Ori, similar to those found in comets in our Solar System. The distribution of these molecules has a ring-like structure with a radius of 60 au, which is twice the size of Neptune's orbit.
Scientists have discovered a 1.3 km radius body beyond Neptune's orbit, revealing more about the planet formation process. The detection supports models where planetesimals grow slowly into kilometer-sized objects before merging to form planets.
A team of astronomers has found an intermediate-mass exoplanet, OGLE-2012-BLG-0950Lb, with a mass of 39 times that of Earth, which contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The discovery was made using microlensing, a method sensitive to sub-Saturn planets in Jupiter-like orbits.
Scientists have discovered a new planet, HD 21749b, with the longest orbital period of three planets so far identified by TESS. The planet, about three times the size of Earth and 23 times as massive, is likely a dense, gaseous 'sub-Neptune' world.
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.
Astronomers use Hubble to detect a second 'very warm' Neptune losing its atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, shedding light on the mysterious hot-Neptune deficit. The planet's evaporation may be linked to its star's intense radiation and age.
Researchers discovered two warm Neptunes at the edge of the 'hot Neptune desert' losing their atmospheres at a rapid pace. This supports the idea that hot Neptunes transform into super-Earths, which are more numerous than previously thought. The study used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to observe the evaporation of these planets.