Researchers at Stanford University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory propose a new explanation for the source of powerful eruptions on Europa's icy surface. The model suggests that water pockets embedded in the ice shell itself could be the origin of these eruptions, rather than the subsurface ocean.
A team of astronomers has discovered the first cold brown dwarf using radio observations from the LOFAR telescope and Gemini North. The object, BDR J1750+3809, is a close cousin of Solar System planets like Jupiter and can be used to test theories predicting exoplanet magnetic fields.
A team of scientists, led by Matt Clement, used simulations to study the formation of Jupiter and Saturn. The findings suggest that these two planets were originally closer together than previously thought, with a ratio of two Jupiter orbits to one Saturnian orbit being more consistent with the current configuration.
A team of astronomers used ALMA to capture radio images of Io during eclipses, showing the direct effect of volcanic activity on its atmosphere. They found that active volcanoes produce 30-50 percent of Io's atmosphere, with potassium chloride also present in volcanic regions.
Scientists have developed a new method to study glycans and their interactions with proteins, expanding our understanding of liver disease and the immune system. Galectin-3, a glycan-binding protein, was found to interact with hundreds of receptors in live liver stellate cells and immune cells.
A study by UCR astrobiologist Stephen Kane suggests that Venus was likely habitable a billion years ago due to its more circular orbit. The findings could provide insights into how the Earth became habitable and what went wrong for Venus, which now has surface temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers found that Jupiter's storms behave similarly to hurricanes on Earth but with a much larger scale. The team used math derived from Lord Kelvin's proof to explain the storms' stable geometric arrangement, discovering anticyclonic rings cause them to repel each other.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a crisp new image of Jupiter's storms, revealing a bright white plume traveling around the planet at 350 miles per hour. The Great Red Spot, currently an exceptionally rich red color, is shrinking in size and appears to be interacting with surrounding clouds.
Astronomers have found a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf star at breakneck speed every 34 hours. The system violates common conventions and may provide a rare habitable arrangement for life to arise.
The discovery of WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf every 34 hours, shows the likely presence of planets around these star remnants. The finding was made possible by NASA's TESS Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope data.
A new study identifies NEMF as a driver of motor neuron diseases, linking defective protein quality control to motor neuron death. The research suggests that dysfunction of ribosomal quality control causes neurodegeneration, providing strong evidence for the link between protein quality control and human disease.
Astronomers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WD 1856b, orbiting close to a white dwarf star, defying previous assumptions about planetary destruction. The planet's unique characteristics suggest it may have originated far from the star and survived its demise, raising hopes for future discoveries.
Astronomers have detected a Jupiter-sized planet, TOI-1899 b, orbiting a low-mass star, providing insights into the formation of giant planets. The discovery was made possible by the Habitable-zone Planet Finder spectrograph and offers a unique opportunity to study the properties of warm Jupiters.
Researchers discovered that moon-moon interactions may be responsible for more tidal heating than Jupiter alone, potentially leading to the melting of ice or rock internally. The study suggests that tidal resonance occurs when tides generated by other objects in the system match a moon's resonant frequency, resulting in increased heating.
Researchers used artificial neural networks to simulate hydrogen's phase transitions at high pressures and temperatures, challenging previous assumptions. The study suggests a smooth transition between insulating and metallic layers in giant gas planets, reconciling existing discrepancies between lab and modeling experiments.
A new study of rare meteorites shows that material from close to the Sun reached the outer solar system even after Jupiter cleared a gap in the disk of dust and gas. This finding challenges the long-held consensus theory on planet formation and provides insights into how planets form around other stars.
A study of meteorites formed in the outer Solar System finds a mix of materials from inner and outer systems, suggesting Jupiter's formation may have trapped dust. The discovery could indicate that material transport between inner and outer systems was halted by Jupiter's formation.
A numerical model recreates Jupiter's polygonal vortex patterns, revealing the importance of shielding and vortex depths. The study suggests that further research is needed to understand why these patterns persist on Jupiter but not on other large gas giants.
Researchers reanalyzed image data from Voyager 1, 2 and Galileo spacecraft to investigate orientation and distribution of ancient tectonic troughs on Ganymede. A computer simulation suggests that the giant crater could have resulted from an asteroid impact with a radius of 150km.
Scientists have unexpectedly found lightning in Jupiter's upper atmosphere, with ammonia playing a crucial role. The discovery reveals a complex atmosphere that challenges previous predictions, indicating an unexpected process causing the phenomenon.
The James Webb Space Telescope will conduct pioneering observations of Jupiter, its ring system, and two intriguing moons Ganymede and Io. The study aims to investigate the moon's interaction with particles in Jupiter's magnetic field and its potential liquid saltwater ocean beneath its thick surface ice.
Researchers are using Jupiter's mass and orbit to help locate the center of gravity of the solar system, which can signal the presence of massive black holes. By analyzing changes in pulsar timing, they aim to detect gravitational waves that warp space-time.
Researchers successfully measured the spin-orbit alignment for the first time in a directly-imaged planetary system. The study reveals that the Beta Pictoris system is as well-aligned as our own solar system, favoring planet-planet scattering as the cause of orbit obliquities.
Researchers found that Europa's ocean could have been formed by tidal forces or radioactive decay, leading to a potentially habitable environment. The team's models suggest that the ocean's composition became more Earth-like, with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and calcium, making it suitable for life.
More than a quarter of exoplanets could be ocean worlds, harboring subsurface oceans and releasing energy similar to Europa and Enceladus. Scientists predict that these planets may be geologically active enough to support life, with some releasing more heat than others.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover that anesthetics trigger brain loss of consciousness by perturbing lipid clusters in the cell membrane, leading to changes in consciousness. This breakthrough solves a century-old scientific debate and opens up new avenues for understanding brain functions.
A new model predicts the most common type of cloud on hot Jupiters, which should consist of liquid or solid silicate droplets. The study also finds that clouds can block observations of gases beneath them, hindering research on exoplanet formation and life.
The ATLAS telescope has discovered an asteroid that exhibits cometary behavior, including a tail of dust or gas, near Jupiter's orbit. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that Jupiter Trojan asteroids should not display cometary characteristics.
The Gemini North telescope has collected some of the highest resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground, complementing Hubble observations to reveal details about Jovian weather. The images show that lightning strikes and giant storm systems are formed in large convective cells over deep clouds of water ice and liquid.
The collaboration provides new insights into Jupiter's turbulent weather, including the association of lightning outbreaks with specific cloud structures. The team maps lightning flashes onto optical images, revealing a three-way combination of clouds and clear regions that facilitate convection and energy release.
Astronomers have improved a mathematical model to accurately gauge the temperatures of planets from solar systems hundreds of light-years away. This new model allows scientists to gather data on an exoplanet's molecular chemistry, gaining insight into the cosmos' planetary beginnings.
Researchers have successfully measured wind speed on a brown dwarf, an object intermediate in mass between a planet and a star. The study found that the brown dwarf's atmosphere is rotating faster than its interior, with a calculated wind speed of about 1425 miles per hour.
A new study has measured wind speeds on a brown dwarf using infrared and radio emissions, revealing strong winds of up to 2,400 kilometers per hour. The technique can be adapted to characterize atmospheres of exoplanets with similar rotation rates and periodic variability.
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 suggest a ring-like structure in the early solar system may have created a compositional dichotomy between terrestrial and jovian planets. This division may have led to the presence of organic molecules on Earth, supporting life.
Dusan Odstrcil and his team are developing a high-quality heliospheric model using Python to accelerate visualization and increase output availability. ENLIL--a time-dependent MHD model--is the only code that can simulate coronal mass ejections up to Jupiter or Saturn orbit.
A Princeton-led team of astrophysicists has shown that WASP-12b, a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet, is spiraling inward toward its host star due to tidal forces. This process converts the planet's orbital energy into heat within the star, causing it to dissipate rapidly.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have developed a molecular switch that enables precise control of gene therapy doses. The technique involves embedding an RNA molecule called a hammerhead ribozyme into the genes used in gene therapies, allowing doctors to regulate the dosing level.
Researchers found a massive gas disk around the 40-million-year-old star 49 Ceti, contradicting conventional planet formation predictions. The discovery raises questions about the origin of the gas and its impact on planetary composition.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the smallest, faintest residents of NGC 1333, distinguishing between objects that form like stars and those that form like planets. The team aims to identify cluster members as puny as Jupiter for the first time ever, shedding light on their origins and the star formation process.
Researchers say Jupiter's Great Red Spot has not changed in size or intensity despite shrinking clouds. The flaking of familiar vortex is considered a very natural state and not an indication of the spot's demise.
The mission detected 54 impacts from micrometeoroids, mostly from short-period comets with Jupiter-determined orbits. The findings help refine dust models used in various studies, including planet formation and spacecraft impact risks.
A team of astronomers discovered three areas in the disk of a young star where gas is cascading into gaps, indicating the presence of forming planets. The study confirms a theory about how planets acquire their atmospheres, suggesting that warmer gas from the outer layers of the disk forms the atmosphere of the planet.
Researchers analyzed data from Galileo's 1995 fireball and found the recession rate exceeded predictions, highlighting issues with current heat shield models. New fluid dynamics models using faster computers and data from the probe have led to a better understanding of atmospheric entry vehicles.
Researchers suggest an unseen population of gas giants orbiting nearby Sun-like stars, awaiting detection. New models support the disk instability mechanism, challenging the core accretion method.
Astronomers discovered a giant Jupiter-like exoplanet orbiting a small red dwarf star, defying standard planet formation theories. The exoplanet, GJ 5312b, is nearly half as massive as Jupiter and orbits the tiny star with an eccentric 204-day orbit.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected heavy rainfall northwest of the cyclone's center, exceeding 40 mm/h. The system is expected to produce up to 2-4 inches of total rainfall accumulations in the Bahamas and 2-4 inches along the U.S. Southeast Coast.
Researchers at the University of Bern discover hints of a volcanically active exomoon, or exo-Io, orbiting the hot giant planet WASP-49b. The presence of sodium gas at an anomalously high-altitude suggests the existence of a small rocky moon that could be responsible for the observed phenomenon.
New study reveals that the temperatures on the dark sides of hot Jupiters are remarkably uniform, suggesting the presence of clouds made of minerals and rocks. This discovery could provide insights into cloud formation elsewhere in the universe, including on Earth.
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.
Research reveals that storm clouds on Jupiter affect the planet's white zones and colorful belts, changing their flow and even altering their colors. The study tracked the effects of these storms using coordinated observations from six telescopes and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
A team of astronomers has discovered a second giant planet, β Pictoris c, in the Beta Pictoris system. The exoplanet has a mass nine times that of Jupiter and completes its orbit in approximately 1,200 days. This detection marks the first time a planet has been found around a star like β Pictoris using the radial velocity method.
A colossal collision between Jupiter and a still-forming planet may have stirred up the core, altering its density and composition. Researchers suggest this event could explain Juno's puzzling gravitational readings, which indicate a less dense and more extended core than expected.
The new image shows Jupiter's trademark Great Red Spot and a more intense color palette in the clouds than seen in previous years. The colorful bands result from differences in atmospheric pressures and ice cloud thickness.
Astronomers observe WASP-121b, a scorching hot exoplanet losing its atmosphere and emitting heavy metals like iron and magnesium. The planet's extreme conditions make it an ideal target for studying the physics of ultra-hot Jupiters.
The study reveals that hot Jupiter WASP-121b is losing its hydrogen and helium atmosphere due to strong gravity, allowing heavier elements like magnesium and iron to escape. The observations provide insights into the planet's extreme environment and its potential for hosting life.
Researchers used observations and physics theory to estimate magnetic field strengths for four hot Jupiters, ranging from 20 to 120 gauss. The findings suggest that internal heat flux plays a key role in determining planetary magnetic fields.
Researchers measured Jupiter's electric current system and found that alternating currents play a crucial role in generating the aurora. The study used data from NASA's Juno spacecraft to derive electric currents and found a total of approximately 50 million amperes, significantly lower than expected values.
Astronomers have detected a circumplanetary disk of gas and dust around the young gas giant PDS 70 c, 370 light years from Earth. The discovery provides direct evidence of planet formation and challenges current theories.
Astronomers have made the first-ever observations of a circumplanetary disk around PDS 70, a young star located 370 light-years from Earth. The ALMA data provide compelling evidence for the existence of multiple moons in the system, with two Jupiter-like planets and a potential third planet on its own orbit.