The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will perform a final flyover of asteroid Bennu, capturing high-resolution images and collecting data from the asteroid's surface and science instruments. The mission aims to understand the extent of the disturbance caused by the sample collection event.
A recent study reveals that the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact drastically restructured tropical forests, leading to a decline in plant diversity and the emergence of angiosperms. The findings suggest that the impact's long-term effects on tropical ecosystems were variable, depending on proximity to the crater and local conditions.
Researchers discovered a low-altitude meteoritic touchdown event reaching the Antarctic ice sheet 430,000 years ago, leaving behind chondritic bulk major particles. The study highlights the importance of reassessing medium-sized asteroid threats and has implications for identifying similar events in deep sea sediment cores.
Researchers at North Carolina State University conducted a pilot study to model ferrovolcanism, the predicted manifestation of planetary volcanism on metallic worlds. They found that metallic lava flows travel 10 times faster and spread more thinly than rocky flows, creating braided channels with smooth, thin layers.
Researchers at the Arecibo Observatory have developed a technique to analyze radar signals bounced off asteroids' surfaces, providing crucial information on their physical properties. This method can help planetary defense prepare for asteroids on a collision course with Earth by identifying porous, fluffy, or rocky surfaces.
Researchers found a 4.565 billion-year-old meteorite with an andesite crust, unlike known asteroids, suggesting andesitic crusts may have been common in early protoplanets.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe captured stunning views of Venus during its close flyby in July 2020. The onboard Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe detected a bright rim around the edge of the planet that may be nightglow.
Researchers have found asteroid dust inside a Chicxulub impact crater, confirming the link between asteroid impacts and dinosaur extinction. The discovery seals the deal, with elevated levels of iridium and other asteroid elements matching those in geologic layers worldwide.
A hybrid approach combining hardware- and computer vision-based tracking improves the accuracy of laparoscopic ultrasound imaging. By using a custom tracking mount with EM sensors and CV markers, the system can track the transducer's pose with high accuracy.
The Emirates Mars Mission will provide crucial science data on the Martian atmosphere, measuring dust particles, ice clouds, and water vapor. The mission's launch marks a significant milestone in space exploration for an Arab nation and has enormous positive impacts on science communities.
A NASA mission will test technologies for satellite swarms to operate autonomously in low-Earth orbit, setting the stage for thousands of small satellites working cooperatively. The V-R3x mission will deploy three CubeSats into polar orbit, exchanging radio signals and measuring distance between satellites.
A MicroLED neural probe for neuroscience has been developed to control and record neural activity in the brain. The probe uses high-efficiency MicroLEDs to activate neural activity with sufficient light output, enabling researchers to study higher brain functions and their relationship with animal behaviors.
Researchers found that asteroid Ryugu's water content is lower than expected, suggesting its parent body dried out before formation. The study suggests that a heating event altered the parent asteroid, leaving Ryugu drier.
A research team led by Dr. Vicky Hamilton has identified a potentially new meteorite parent asteroid through analysis of the Almahata Sitta meteorite. The study suggests that the parent body was an asteroid roughly the size of Ceres, formed in the presence of water under intermediate temperatures and pressures.
Researchers found that mass extinctions of land-dwelling animals, including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds, coincide with major asteroid impacts and devastating volcanic outpourings of lava. The study suggests that these periodic events may be triggered by comets and are linked to the Earth's orbit in the Galaxy.
The Hayabusa2 mission successfully returned asteroid samples from Ryugu, a carbonaceous asteroid believed to contain organic materials. The return marks the second successful sample-return mission in history, offering insights into the origin of life and potential resource utilization for space exploration.
Researchers have found a new network of routes that can transport spacecraft and comets at unprecedented speeds, reaching Jupiter's distance in under a decade. The 'celestial autobahn' or 'celestial highway' acts on several decades, allowing for faster exploration and monitoring of near-Earth objects.
A synthetic probe offers a safe approach for visualizing chromosome tips in living cells. The probe can precisely deliver a fluorescent compound to telomeres on the tips of chromosomes, enabling researchers to understand their relevance to disease and aging. This breakthrough advances research into aging and diseases like cancer.
A new study from the University of Bath and Natural History Museum found that dinosaurs were not declining in diversity at the time of their extinction. The researchers used statistical modelling to assess dinosaur family trees and found no evidence of decline, contradicting previous studies. If the asteroid impact hadn't occurred, din...
The AMADEE-18 Mars analog mission in Oman evaluated operational concepts and optimized strategies for future human missions. A benchmarking tool was developed to improve scientific output, mission safety, and efficiency.
Asteroid Bennu's surface boulders hold secrets to its 1.75 million-year history, which scientists studied through impact crater analysis. The findings provide crucial context for the returned sample, allowing researchers to understand the asteroid's geology and composition.
Scientists discovered that surviving algae adapted a unique behavior called mixotrophy, allowing them to thrive in the aftermath of an asteroid impact. This adaptation enabled them to eat other organisms while still utilizing photosynthesis to produce food.
Researchers studied impact marks on asteroid Bennu to reconstruct its history, revealing it formed hundreds of millions of years ago but wandered into Earth's neighborhood recently. The study provides a new benchmark for understanding asteroids and offers insights into hazardous space debris.
Researchers found that plankton species shifted from relying on sunlight to capturing food and eating it after the asteroid impact, allowing them to survive. This adaptation suggests that the lack of light played a crucial role in killing off some species, but others adapted to thrive.
The Hayabusa2 mission's artificial impact crater on asteroid Ryugu revealed significant boulder movements and seismic shaking, up to 40m from the center. The study provides valuable insights into asteroids' resurfacing processes and can be used as a benchmark for numerical simulations.
The study provides new insights into the asteroid's composition, suggesting it may be a dense, metallic object made of iron and nickel. The findings also indicate that oxidation is occurring on the surface, which could be a result of solar wind interaction.
The OSIRIS-REx mission successfully collected samples from the surface of asteroid Bennu, with the sampling head touching down within three feet of the targeted location. The majority of sample collection occurred within the first 3 seconds, and the spacecraft spent approximately 5 of the 6 seconds of contact collecting surface material.
SwRI scientists studied the color, reflectivity, age, composition, origin and distribution of materials on asteroid Bennu's surface. The mission discovered carbon-bearing compounds and minerals containing or formed by water, which will help determine the scenarios that best explain Bennu's surface composition.
The OSIRIS-REx mission has published findings on asteroid Bennu's surface, including widespread carbon-bearing materials, bright carbonate veins, weak boulders, and a heterogeneous mass distribution. These discoveries suggest that asteroids like Bennu may have brought organic molecules to Earth billions of years ago.
The OSIRIS-REx mission has mapped the gravity field of asteroid Bennu, revealing a weaker and less dense core than previously thought. This could put the asteroid's survival at risk in the near future as it may slowly spin itself apart.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has provided detailed insights into the composition and structure of asteroid Bennu, a 'rubble pile' of carbon-rich material. Researchers have discovered that Bennu's surface has undergone complex evolution due to space weathering processes and that carbonate minerals are widespread across most of its surface.
Researchers found that burned organic matter in sediments ejected from the Chicxulub impact crater likely contributed to the mass extinction event. The analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) suggests a fossil source origin and rapid heating, consistent with rock material ejected during the asteroid impact.
A team of scientists has created a fluorescent nanoparticle probe that mimics how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells, allowing for rapid testing of potential therapeutic agents. The probe's ability to track viral attachment and effects on cells in real-time makes it a powerful tool for drug discovery.
Researchers discover two types of boulders on Ryugu, hinting at a collision between a small S-type and C-type parent asteroid. The findings provide clues to the asteroid's turbulent past and may shed light on Earth's history.
New study from University of Tokyo researchers calls into doubt a long-held theory about the early solar system. They found evidence that asteroid Vesta was hit by multiple impacting bodies around 4.4 billion to 4.15 billion years ago, earlier than previously thought.
A Boston College study found that 95% of Massachusetts high schools altered their mission statements between 2001 and 2019, with a focus on students' emotional development, cognitive development, and civic development. The research also showed an increase in career preparation and environmental challenges as school objectives.
The OSIRIS-REx mission reveals that asteroid Bennu sheds material periodically, with particles ejecting from the surface and orbiting or falling back onto it. The spacecraft's observations provide insight into the processes likely causing this activity, shedding new light on dynamic asteroids.
Northern Arizona University assistant professor Cristina Thomas has received NASA grants to study small Koronis asteroids and Trojan-like asteroids in the Main Asteroid Belt. Her research will help scientists better understand the origins of asteroids and provide insights into space weathering and material delivery to the belt.
TESS has found 66 new exoplanets, including an Earth-size world in the habitable zone of a star. The satellite has also observed comets, exploding stars, and black holes, contributing to our understanding of astrobiology.
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.
The Arecibo Observatory successfully tracked asteroid 2020 NK1, determining its orbit and motion. The observations showed the asteroid poses no danger to Earth, with a closest approach in 2043. High-resolution images revealed an elongated shape and diameter of approximately 0.6 miles.
The USGS has created precise maps of the Mars 2020 landing site in Jezero crater, which will help the Perseverance rover steer itself to a safe landing. These high-resolution maps are essential for unlocking the mysteries of the red planet's past and searching for evidence of past life.
The Roman mission's ground system has successfully completed its preliminary design review, meeting all requirements for science operations. The new data system will enable scientists to conduct sweeping cosmic surveys, yielding a wealth of new information about the universe, including insights into dark matter and dark energy.
A study by Osaka University researchers found that an asteroid of 100 km in diameter was disrupted 800 million years ago and caused a massive meteoroid impact, releasing approximately 30-60 times more material than the Chicxulub impact. This finding suggests that sporadic meteorite bombardment may have affected Earth's environment.
Researchers from USTC obtained the ultimate precision for estimating all three components of a magnetic field with entangled probe states under the parallel scheme. They found that tradeoff comes from incompatibility of optimal probe states and presented an approach to quantify tradeoff.
A veteran NAU planetary scientist collaborates with UAE and US teams to develop Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer (EMIRS), providing a unique view of Martian atmosphere. The Emirates Mars Mission 'Hope' orbiter arrives at Mars in February 2021, collecting images and data for two years.
Researchers studied robotic explorers' impact on asteroid surfaces, finding that some rocks and boulders likely ricochet due to low gravity. The study provides critical information for designing successful asteroid missions.
Nonavian dinosaurs went extinct during the end-Cretaceous mass extinction due to a 10-15% reduction in sunlight caused by an asteroid impact. Simulations suggest that the asteroid impact was the main driver of nonavian dinosaur extinction, while volcanism might have mitigated its effects.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that asteroid impact caused an impact winter decades long, decimating dinosaur habitats worldwide. In contrast, volcanic eruptions had a limited effect on global ecosystems.
A new microscopy technique called Pulsed Force Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (PF-KPFM) has been developed, allowing for less than 10 nanometer measurements of work function and surface potential in a single-pass AFM scan. This breakthrough enables the characterization of the electrical properties of nanomaterials at the nanoscale.
Researchers found ancient stardust and water on asteroid Vesta, suggesting a possible mechanism for delivering water to young Earth. The study provides insights into the formation of our solar system and the origins of water in the inner solar system.
Scientists propose that asteroids Bennu and Ryugu were formed directly as spinning-top shapes due to a collision, with their equatorial craters ruling out recent re-shaping. The team's computer simulations suggest two possible explanations for the different hydration levels of the two bodies.
Numerical simulations suggest asteroids Ryugu and Bennu may have formed from the disruption of a single parent asteroid. Analysis of return samples will verify this by measuring their composition and determining their formation age.
The asteroid impact at an estimated 60-degree angle led to the release of massive amounts of sulphur into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and causing a nuclear winter. This event ultimately contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth 66 million years ago.
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.
Researchers propose a scheme to realize selective directional coupling of near-field longitudinal waves based on inherent geometric properties and symmetry analysis. The work enables the creation of Janus and Huygens sources, which selectively couple with one side or two sides of the near-field pattern, respectively.
Researchers studied Hayabusa2's readings from the Ryugu asteroid, finding evidence of solar heating that changed its chemical properties. This discovery sheds light on the early history of the solar system and the formation of asteroids.
Researchers used atom-probe tomography to study minerals from an asteroid over 4.5 billion years ago, discovering water precipitates that suggest the presence of sodium-rich fluids. These conditions are ideal for amino acid synthesis, potentially supporting microbial life formation as early as 4.5 billion years ago.
Dione will collect energy input and ionospheric-thermospheric data, providing insights into atmospheric drag and improving space weather forecasts. The mission complements the Geospace Dynamics Constellation and marks a new era for CubeSats in gathering similar data.
High-resolution images capture Ryugu's asteroid surface in exceptional detail, revealing its geological history and color variations. The touchdown operation also disturbed a dark coating that corresponds to the surface's reddish materials, suggesting rapid solar heating during a temporary orbital excursion.