A Southwest Research Institute-led team discovered evidence of abundant water-bearing minerals on the surface of asteroid Bennu using OSIRIS-REx spectral data. The findings are consistent with meteorites found on Earth and provide clues to the distribution and abundance of water in the early solar system.
The study finds that Bennu exists in a delicate balance between two competing forces, its wild spin creating a competition between gravity and centrifugal acceleration. This balance affects the asteroid's long-term evolution and potential demise.
The OSIRIS-REx mission revealed unexpected discoveries on asteroid Bennu, including particle plumes and a rugged terrain. The team adjusted their flight plans due to the rough surface, which challenges their sample collection strategies.
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.
Scientists have observed that asteroid Bennu's rotation period is getting shorter by about 1 second every 100 years, a change that could lead to dramatic changes in the space rock. This acceleration is likely due to the YORP effect, which causes asteroids to spin faster or slower as sunlight hits them.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that schools with diverse mission statements show improved cardiovascular health in students of color. These environments tend to be more supportive and inclusive, leading to better academic success and reduced discipline rates.
Scientists model dinosaur species distribution in North America to show they were adaptable and not declining before the meteorite, contrary to previous theories. The study finds a range of habitats could support dinosaur groups at the end of the Cretaceous, but these areas are less likely to preserve fossils.
A Johns Hopkins study using a new computer modeling method simulates asteroid collisions and finds that larger objects are not as easily broken as previously thought. Instead, asteroids retain significant strength after impact due to the formation of a damaged core.
Researchers at UCF have created standards for simulated extraterrestrial surface material, allowing for accurate comparisons of test results across studies. The standardized simulant has a high fidelity match with a real meteorite, making it valuable for companies doing asteroid mining and testing.
SNoOPI will validate remote-sensing technique called signals of opportunity to measure soil moisture from space, a crucial step towards determining water stored in snowpack and soil root zones. The mission will reuse existing telecommunications signals, eliminating the need for large antennas.
Researchers find evidence suggesting an asteroid/comet impact reignited massive volcanic eruptions in India, coinciding with the worldwide extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The eruptions, known as the Deccan Traps, produced climate-altering gases that may have played a role in the mass extinction.
Researchers used high-precision dating methods to study the timing and impact of Deccan Traps volcanism on dinosaur extinction. The studies suggest that massive volcanic eruptions could have dramatically altered Earth's climate, triggering mass extinctions before the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
Researchers at Northwestern University are developing a predictive model to help NASA assemble ideal teams for the Mission to Mars. The study, conducted in two analog environments, reveals that crews experience diminished abilities to think creatively and solve problems, with successful task completion rates between 20-60%.
The SPHEREx mission, led by Caltech and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will conduct an all-sky spectroscopic mapping of the universe. Argonne researchers will contribute to the mission's cosmological simulations, galaxy identification, and large-scale structure analysis.
Rochester Institute of Technology professor Michael Zemcov is contributing to NASA's SPHEREx mission, which will map galaxies across the universe to study inflation and galaxy formation. The mission aims to answer questions about the origin and evolution of key biogenic molecules like water and carbon monoxide.
Research led by UT Austin found that Ceres' crust keeps cryomagma liquid for up to 10 million years after impact, contradicting earlier estimates. The discovery helps scientists understand primary forces driving volcanic activity and could shed light on Europa's potential for life.
Researchers found that ancient asteroid impacts played a crucial role in creating the early evolved crust on Earth, which later gave rise to continents. The impact melts produced layered magmatic intrusions and made the crust more evolutionarily complex.
A team of scientists analyzed lunar craters and found a drastic change in asteroid impact rates around 290 million years ago. This period saw an increase in asteroid impacts, with the rate being 2.6 times higher than before.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has made groundbreaking observations of asteroid Bennu, revealing the presence of water molecules and hydrated minerals. The findings confirm that Bennu is an excellent specimen for the mission, which aims to return a sample of surface material to Earth in 2023.
Research finds that gravity and unique shapes of small objects in our solar system create and maintain their own rings. Astronomers discovered that rings around Chariklo and Haumea are confined by the object's irregularities, contradicting previous assumptions about moon-dominated ring systems.
Scott Bolton, associate vice president of SwRI's Space Science and Engineering Division, receives the 2018 American Ingenuity Award from Smithsonian Magazine for his work on NASA's Juno mission. The mission has revealed complex, turbulent structures around Jupiter, including iconic belts and zones, Earth-sized cyclones, and a lumpy mag...
Astrophysicists from Far Eastern Federal University studied the linear polarization of sunlight scattered by asteroid Phaethon, applying the Umov effect to its research. They discovered a correlation between reflectivity and polarization, shedding light on this phenomenon in small Solar System bodies.
The Parker Solar Probe captured a breathtaking view of Earth on Sept. 25, 2018, showcasing the Moon just behind our planet. The image also reveals a lens flare effect due to reflections from the bright Earthshine, which is visible in the hemispherical shaped feature.
A team of scientists developed a fluorescent imaging probe that can rapidly visualize Gram-negative bacteria in human lungs. The probe successfully detected bacterial lung infections in six patients with bronchiectasis and seven ventilated ICU patients without causing major adverse effects.
Scientists discovered that extremely strong vibrations in the Earth allow rock to flow like a liquid for a crucial few minutes after impact. This 'acoustic fluidization' process enables the formation of mountainous ring structures within the crater's center.
Researchers developed an arthroscopic near infrared spectroscopic probe to evaluate articular cartilage and subchondral bone structure and composition. This technique provides comprehensive information on joint tissue health, enhancing the treatment outcome of arthroscopic intervention.
Researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University have identified four extremely young asteroid families using a numerical simulation method. The newly discovered families are estimated to be less than 7 million years old and were dated using the backward integration method, which is precise for young families.
The TESS mission captured a detailed picture of the southern sky with its four wide-field cameras, while Parker Solar Probe and GOLD returned initial data on their instruments and science potential. The three missions offer new perspectives on exoplanets, solar activity, and space weather.
A recent NASA long-duration balloon mission captured high-resolution images of noctilucent clouds, revealing processes leading to turbulence. The mission aims to improve weather forecasting models by understanding the causes and effects of atmospheric gravity waves.
Scientists have created a nanosized sensing probe for RNA molecules using DNA origami and gold nanorods. The probe can detect concentrations as low as 100 picomolar of the target RNA, making it a promising diagnostic tool for viral infections.
Astronomers used the VLBA to study the effects on radio waves coming from a distant galaxy when an asteroid passed in front of it. They measured the size and shape of the asteroid, improving the accuracy of its orbital path calculation.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University analyzed Hayabusa particles to determine the age of asteroid Itokawa, finding it formed 4.6 billion years ago and was destroyed 1.5 billion years later. The study used precise isotope analyses to clarify the chronology of the asteroid's evolution.
Scientists have created a fluorescent probe that can tag single specimens of tuberculosis bacteria, which could lead to faster diagnosis and more effective treatments. The probe works by detecting the presence of an enzyme called BlaC, allowing for the identification of live versus dead bacteria.
Parker Solar Probe will make its journey to the Sun's atmosphere, closer than any spacecraft in history, with a highly elliptical orbit and speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour. The spacecraft will observe the acceleration of the solar wind and study extreme events on the Sun, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Parker Solar Probe, launched in August 2018, will study the solar corona's temperature and wind sources with French-developed instruments. The probe will complete 25 orbits near the Sun, reaching speeds of up to 700,000 km/h.
Researchers developed a molecular probe to detect cancer stem cells in their native environment. The AlDeSense probe illuminates these cells, allowing them to be identified, tracked, and studied in live mice.
Parker Solar Probe aims to study the Sun's dynamic and magnetically active star, focusing on the acceleration of solar wind, corona's high temperatures, and solar energetic particles. The mission uses four suites of instruments to gather data remotely and in situ.
The Parker Solar Probe will travel closer to the Sun than any mission before it, providing unprecedented observations of the corona. Despite temperatures exceeding a million degrees Fahrenheit, the spacecraft will withstand due to its custom heat shield and autonomous system.
The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission will investigate the heliosphere, surrounding our solar system, and collect data on particle acceleration and interaction with interstellar medium. The $492-million mission includes 10 instruments to resolve scientific questions about the solar wind and cosmic rays.
NASA's PACE mission will use Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) to demonstrate the first key opportunity of this revolutionary capability. DTN enables information to be sent through space and ground networks without a continuous path, making it ideal for remote locations with limited network connectivity.
A new study found that most asteroids in the inner asteroid belt originate from five or six ancient minor planets, with at least 85% of them tracing their origins to these primordial bodies. This discovery provides a more robust understanding of the evolutionary history of asteroids and the materials that form them.
Researchers used the Pirka Telescope to observe Phaethon's reflected light polarization at various angles, revealing strongly polarized light that challenges previous assumptions. The findings suggest that Phaethon's surface may be darker than expected, potentially due to a lower albedo or larger grains on its surface.
A team of astronomers led by Marco Micheli and Karen Meech found that Oumuamua was not slowing down due to gravitational forces alone, pointing to non-gravitational perturbations similar to those experienced by comets. Despite initial classification as an asteroid, the object's trajectory and behavior are more consistent with a comet.
A new smart probe developed by Tel Aviv University researchers can detect and visualize individual cancer cells in real-time, allowing surgeons to target specific tumor locations. The probe uses near-infrared technology to identify overproduced enzymes in cancer cells, guiding precise removal of malignant tissue.
New research found life in the crater within a few years of impact, contrary to predictions. A thriving ecosystem developed within 30,000 years, influenced primarily by local factors such as water circulation and ecological niches.
A new study analyzes ancient fish remains to reveal a 5°C rapid temperature increase following the Chicxulub asteroid impact. The findings suggest that temperatures did not cool for roughly 100,000 years after the event.
A new study reveals that the asteroid impact that wiped out dinosaurs also caused a mass extinction of forests, leading to the demise of tree-dwelling birds. The research team analyzed fossil records and pollen evidence to conclude that the temporary loss of forests after the impact made it impossible for arboreal birds to survive.
Researchers analyzed plant fossil record and evolutionary relationships to conclude that global forest collapse led to the survival of only a few ancestral bird lineages. These early survivors adapted to life on the ground, laying the foundation for the diverse range of modern bird species.
A Brazilian scientist and her co-author found that an extrasolar asteroid has stably occupied a stable path corresponding to Jupiter's orbit for at least 4.5 billion years. The asteroid is believed to have originated from outside the Solar System, likely captured by Jupiter's powerful gravitational field.
Scientists investigate vibration energy of a single molecule on a surface, measuring the current generated by applying voltage between a probe tip and the surface. The study uses a classical model to reproduce experimental results, shedding light on interaction between molecules and surfaces.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a carbon-rich asteroid in the Kuiper Belt, providing strong support for theoretical models of the Solar System's formation. The asteroid, 2004 EW95, is believed to have formed in the inner Solar System and was flung outwards by a migratory planet.
A UCLA-led team of biologists reports that a six-mile-wide asteroid crash 66 million years ago created an enormous evolutionary void for marine fish to diversify. Today's rich biodiversity among marine fish shows the fingerprints of this mass extinction, with six major acanthomorph groups producing almost all marine fish diversity.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a tiny fibre-optic probe that can measure temperature and see deep inside the body. The probe has potential to help study drug-induced hyperthermia and provide insights into other diseases, such as optimising thermal treatment for cancers.
Researchers have developed a universal fluorescent probe that targets and stains cancer stem cells, a type of tumor-initiating cell. The probe, named TiY, demonstrates high selectivity towards these cells, which are believed to cause relapses after radiation and chemotherapy.
Researchers create a new method to analyze irregularly shaped 3D objects using mass spectrometry and robotics. The technique, called RoSA-MS, uses a laser scanner to map the sample's surface and direct a sampling probe to collect trace amounts of material for analysis.
New research confirms that 'Oumuamua, the first confirmed interstellar asteroid, originated from a binary star system. The study found that rocky objects like 'Oumuamua are far more likely to come from binary systems than single star systems.
Researchers model asteroid destruction using miniatures and laser blasts, estimating required nuclear explosion energy. The study provides a way to experimentally evaluate asteroid destruction criteria.
The IMAGE mission used novel techniques like energetic neutral atom imaging to render the invisible visible, capturing large-scale images of the surrounding plasma and revealing new discoveries about Earth's magnetosphere and plasmasphere. This groundbreaking research continues to guide science today.
The GOLD mission provides unprecedented measurements of Earth's upper atmosphere, tracking day-to-day changes in temperature and composition. By imaging ultraviolet light, GOLD will create a map of the hemisphere revealing how these forces impact our technological society.
After an amateur astronomer recorded observations of a satellite in high Earth orbit on Jan. 20, 2018, NASA coordinated the use of five separate antennas to acquire radio frequency signals from the object. The signals matched the expected characteristics of the IMAGE mission, suggesting it could be the lost satellite.