A recent study has identified numerous previously undiscovered asteroids within Earth's orbit, including an asteroid with an orbital period around the Sun. These discoveries highlight the potential of telescopic surveys to track near-Earth objects and provide crucial data on their formation.
A NASA scientist will lead a team in characterizing and understanding Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) with a $848,013 grant. The project aims to predict PHA close approaches and issue warnings to prevent asteroid impacts.
Asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu appear rough due to the loss of fine-grained regolith caused by tiny space dust grains hopping around on their surfaces. This process may help small asteroids migrate faster through space, affecting their orbits.
Asteroid Bennu's surface is characterized as loosely bound, with a near-subsurface layer composed of weakly bound rock fragments containing twice the void space as the overall asteroid. The study provides new insights into the physical properties of rubble-pile asteroids, with implications for their long-term evolution.
The OSIRIS-REx mission has collected a sample from asteroid Bennu, which will be analyzed in 2023. The study found that the asteroid's surface consists of low-cohesion rubble and sub-surface material is darker and more fine-particle-rich than the overlying surface.
Researchers from the University of Bern and NCCR PlanetS simulated the DART mission impact, finding that it could deform the asteroid near unrecognizably. The study's results suggest that the impact could eject large amounts of material and deflect the asteroid more strongly than previously thought.
The team at Arecibo Observatory successfully captured data on the mysterious asteroid 2019 OK, revealing it was a fast-rotating C-type or S-type asteroid with a diameter of .04 to .08 miles. The findings provide insights into asteroid composition and rotation rates, which can help inform deflection techniques to protect the planet.
Asteroid Psyche's varied surface suggests a dynamic history, with metallic eruptions, asteroid-shaking impacts, and a lost rocky mantle. The new maps hint at the asteroid's ancient core, which could be composed of silicate-rich material that has since disappeared.
Researchers have developed a new probe to detect Alzheimer's disease biomarkers using near-infrared fluorescence, which may help diagnose the disease early and prevent its progression. The probe binds oligomeric Aβ proteins, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, offering a potential alternative to existing treatments.
Researchers found that the asteroid is similar to 'Ivuna-type carbonaceous chondrites,' which date back to the solar system's beginnings. The samples show signs of having been soaked in water, but the rock itself appears relatively dry, hinting at similar formation conditions between comets and asteroids.
Samples from asteroid Ryugu are chemically similar to Ivuna-type (CI) carbonaceous meteorites, offering insights into the Solar System's formation. The findings suggest that Ryugu samples represent the most primitive and pristine Solar System materials analyzed in a laboratory.
The samples returned from the Hayabusa2 mission provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. The study found that Ryugu contains hydrated minerals and evidence of freeze-thawing, indicating that it experienced both liquid and frozen water in its past.
The researchers successfully demonstrated attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy to study non-linear multi-photon ionization of atoms. The experiment showed that the absorption of four photons from two attosecond pulse trains led to three electrons being removed from an argon atom.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a tiny, flexible neural probe that can record and stimulate neural activity while minimizing injury to surrounding tissue. The probe is ideal for studying peripheral nerves or the spinal cord, where traditional probes may not fit due to its small size and flexibility.
Researchers developed a fluorogenic probe that binds to the promoter region of influenza A virus RNA, creating a significant light-up response to identify its presence. This technique has shown promise for detecting influenza A more easily and may lead to the development of new antiviral drugs.
The DAVINCI mission will descend through Venus' layered atmosphere to the surface, measuring critical aspects of the planet's climate system. The probe will acquire high-resolution images and detailed chemistry measurements of the atmosphere and surface.
Scientists at Stanford University developed a soft implantable probe called NeuroString that can measure dopamine and serotonin in the brain and gut. The probe has potential applications in diagnosing and monitoring intestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and treating Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers analyzed iron samples from asteroid cores to determine the timing of asteroid core cooling and collisions. The study suggests that violent collisions occurred within a 7.8-11.7 million year window after solar system formation, indicating a chaotic early phase.
Researchers propose that Ceres was formed outside the Frost Line, where ammonia ice is abundant, and then pulled into the Asteroid Belt by gravitational instability. Computer simulations support this hypothesis, showing that giant planet formation led to a turbulent environment that scattered objects into stable orbits.
Researchers at the Beckman Institute found a direct link between high-fat diets and heightened nitric oxide levels, which can lead to increased risk of inflammation and cancer development. The study used a molecular probe to visualize changes in the tumor microenvironment.
The OSIRIS-APEX mission will study changes in asteroid Apophis caused by its close flyby of Earth. The spacecraft will also approach the surface and fire its thrusters to expose the asteroid's subsurface, enabling scientists to learn more about its material properties and composition.
Researchers studied Apophis's physical characteristics and possible effects during its 2029 approach. Simulations revealed that low densities could lead to up to 90% of loose stones being removed from the asteroid's surface.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed an AI-assisted Nanofountain Probe Electroporation system to engineer stem cells. The new method reduces cell loss and increases throughput, enabling selective manipulation of individual cells in micro-arrays.
Researchers suggest that asteroid Ryugu could be a relic of an ancient comet due to its high organic content and spinning top shape. The study proposes a simple physical model that fits the observed data, suggesting that comets can leave behind rocky debris in the inner solar system.
A new MRI probe can monitor individual populations of neurons and reveal how they interact with each other. The technique uses genetically targeted probes to detect neural activity and provide a more precise picture of brain function.
New research suggests that asteroid 16 Psyche is likely harboring a hidden rocky component, contradicting initial assumptions about its iron-rich composition. The study's findings indicate that the asteroid's porosity would be unlikely to remain stable over time, and alternative explanations for its metallic surface must be explored.
New research reveals that asteroid Ryugu samples brought back by Hayabusa2 spacecraft exhibit similar properties to the asteroid's larger boulders. The samples' colors, shapes, and structures are consistent with material surrounding each collection site on Ryugu's surface and sub-surface.
The UH-discovered Earth Trojan asteroid is the largest to date, offering valuable data on its orbital stability. Researchers conducted an observational study and analyzed the asteroid's photometric characteristics, shedding light on its properties.
The probe measures salinity, temperature and pressure, making three measurements per metre before returning to the surface. The successful deployment provides valuable insights into freshwater input to the marine Arctic ecosystems and its effects on global ocean currents.
The discovery of 2020 XL5, the second Earth Trojan asteroid, provides significant insights into the early conditions of the Solar System. The asteroid's stable orbit around the L4 or L5 Lagrangian points makes it an ideal candidate for future space missions.
Researchers have confirmed that the frequency of asteroid collisions forming impact craters on Mars has been consistent over the past 600 million years. The study used a crater detection algorithm to analyze more than 500 large Martian craters and found no significant variation in asteroid collision frequencies.
Researchers developed a multifunctional microfiber probe for real-time monitoring of cellular molecules and changes in cell morphology. The nanowire probe enabled sensitive detection of refractive index distribution in single living cells during apoptosis.
Researchers studied archival images from the Palomar Observatory's Zwicky Transient Facility and found that Starlink satellite streaks now appear in almost 20% of twilight images. Software can help mitigate potential problems, but the impact on astronomy is still a concern, especially for future surveys like Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
The article discusses how scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd. used key orbit design technologies to achieve a 23-day journey of lunar sample return with the Chang'E 5 mission. The success relied on precise orbit designs for lunar orbit rendezvous and docking, precision landing, and inclination optimization.
A new smart probe has been developed to enhance tumor photoacoustic imaging using a cathepsin B biomarker. The probe shows a 4.9-fold PA signal enhancement in cancer cells and tumors compared to unmodified probes.
A researcher developed a computer simulation to predict asteroid impacts and study crater formation. The simulation, built using NASA-designed methods, can generalize results to all metal asteroid impacts.
Parker Solar Probe successfully flew through the Sun's corona, sampling particles and magnetic fields, revealing critical information about the Sun's evolution and impact on solar system. The probe made new discoveries, including identifying the origin of switchbacks in the solar wind, which form near the solar surface.
The Parker Solar Probe has entered the solar corona and spent five hours in direct contact with the sun's plasma, measuring phenomena previously estimated. The probe discovered that the Alfvén critical surface is wrinkled, suggesting a potential new era for understanding coronal heating.
The Parker Solar Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun, a region approximately 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, and collected data using the Solar Probe Cup instrument. The probe's historic achievement sheds light on phenomena such as solar flares, high-speed solar winds, and the Sun's atmosphere's heat and magnetic fields.
Researchers developed a detachable head-mounted photoacoustic microscope for imaging brain activity in freely moving mice. The probe captures neurovascular dynamics and can be removed after imaging, enabling long-term studies that could reveal new insights into neurodegenerative diseases.
A groundbreaking study confirms the timing of the Chicxulub asteroid impact, which occurred during the spring-summer growth phase, leading to the extinction of dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth. The research team used multiple lines of evidence, including fossil pollen, index fossils, and radiometric dating, to pinpoint the exact time...
Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a genetically encoded probe to visualize active transcription sites in living cells. The probe successfully identified phosphorylated Ser2 in RNA polymerase II, allowing for the localization of elongation phase transcription sites in real-time.
A team of scientists has discovered a thick layer of paleoregolith on the lunar surface, which could provide insight into the Moon's early asteroid impact and volcanic history. The findings suggest the paleoregolith formed much faster than previously estimated, with implications for understanding meteoric activity in the solar system.
A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona suggests that near-Earth asteroid Kamo`oalewa could be a miniature moon, with its spectrum matching lunar rocks from NASA's Apollo missions. The asteroid's orbit is similar to Earth's but with a slight tilt, making it unlikely to have originated from a typical near-Earth asteroid.
A new study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen found that the greatest increase in marine biodiversity on Earth occurred due to changes in climate cycles, rather than an asteroid explosion. Fossil analysis revealed a shift towards colder climates around 469 million years ago, leading to the blooming of marine life.
Scientists have discovered that hypervelocity dust impacts on a spacecraft can produce plasma explosions and create debris clouds, disturbing its operations. These events can also generate clouds of debris that expand away from the spacecraft.
Researchers found asteroid and comet collisions occurred more frequently than thought, potentially delaying oxygen accumulation in the atmosphere. The study suggests that these impacts may have created an 'oxygen sink' that reduced atmospheric oxygen levels.
A recent study suggests that primates and marsupials were among the few tree-dwelling mammals that survived an asteroid impact 66 million years ago. The researchers used computer models and fossil records to find that most surviving mammals did not rely on trees, but some arboreal species may have been versatile enough to adapt.
The study of 42 asteroids provides detailed images and shapes, revealing a variety of asteroid types, including spherical and elongated objects. The densities of the asteroids vary significantly, suggesting different compositions and origins, supporting theories of substantial migration and distinct region formation in the Solar System.
A new study suggests that ground-dwelling and semi-arboreal mammals were better able to survive the mass extinction event, while tree-dwelling mammals were more likely to perish. Early primates may have maintained their arboreal habits through forested refugia or behavioral flexibility.
A new study suggests that tree-dwelling mammals, including primates and their ancestors, survived the asteroid strike that devastated Earth's forests 66 million years ago. The research found that ground-dwelling mammals had a selective advantage over arboreal counterparts, but some tree-dwellers managed to survive.
Curtin University researchers have helped determine the age of the youngest rocks ever found on the Moon, revealing they are approximately two billion years old. This discovery provides new calibration points for cratering chronology, enabling more accurate age dating across planetary surfaces.
Asteroid Bennu's surface is covered in boulders due to its highly porous rocks, which compress rather than fragment under meteoroid impacts. This contradicts previous observations of fine regolith on similar asteroids, such as Ryugu and Itokawa.
A study of metal-rich asteroids has found that they have surfaces with 85% metal such as iron and nickel, similar to stony-iron meteorites. The research also identified four possible asteroid families in the main asteroid belt, which may hold clues about their origins.
Researchers developed a non-toxic, small-molecule probe that provides real-time visualization of disease progression, overcoming limitations of MRI and PET imaging. The probe binds copper ions and detects dysregulated levels, accurately identifying Wilson's disease and other maladies.
A new study suggests that modern snakes originated from a few species that survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which wiped out dinosaurs and other species. Snakes began to diversify into new habitats and exploit new prey, leading to the emergence of diverse lineages such as vipers, cobras, and pythons.
Researchers suggest that Vesta's large troughs were formed by rocks cracking apart due to the planet's weak gravity, contradicting a leading hypothesis. The study uses crater counting methods to explore the relative age of the basins and troughs, indicating they share a similar age.
A doctoral student is launching a project to quadruple the number of known active asteroids by engaging volunteers in the search. The Active Asteroids project, supported by NASA and NSF grants, aims to classify over 10 million asteroid images in the Southern Hemisphere.
Scientists have developed a novel technique to analyze magnetites in meteorites, providing a historical record of the early Solar System's dynamics. By studying the Tagish Lake meteorite, researchers infer that the parent body formed in the Kuiper Belt and moved to the asteroid belt after Jupiter's formation.
The Dragonfly mission will investigate Titan's surface and atmosphere, searching for chemical biosignatures and exploring the moon's active methane cycle. By analyzing the prebiotic chemistry currently taking place in Titan's atmosphere and on its surface, scientists hope to gain insights into the potential for life on the moon.