Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have published two articles in Nature on their findings about the atmosphere, climate and weather patterns of Venus. The studies revealed the presence of a double vortex at the South Pole, which is similar to those found on Earth's polar regions.
Argon atoms are found to be tenaciously bound in the Earth's mantle and move slowly, contradicting widely held theories. This suggests that early degassing was incomplete and primordial gases still remain trapped at great depth.
Researchers will make measurements of thick clouds and surface of Venus, comparing atmosphere with past data, using MASCS instrument. The mission also tests instrument performance before Mercury arrival and explores mineral composition, gas distribution, and water-ice at Mercury's poles.
Communicators and researchers are working together to develop effective science communication strategies, exploring ways to identify common goals and potential funding sources. This collaboration aims to create rich, complete stories about what scientists do and why, benefiting taxpayers and advancing policy.
The IAU defined a planet as a celestial body in orbit around the Sun with sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium. The new definition includes our solar system's eight recognized planets and a distinct class of dwarf planets, including Pluto.
The VENUS facility offers a unique window into the world under the sea, with a centralized data management system providing unrestricted access to long-term ocean observations. The observatory has already archived over 35 million measurements and dozens of gigabytes of acoustic and visual data.
Pooled data from clinical trials showed significantly fewer patients taking Nexium developed an ulcer compared to those on placebo. The study demonstrated reduced stomach ulcer risk in patients at high risk for complications associated with NSAID use.
A team of researchers from Williams College will travel to Greece to study the solar eclipse, capturing observations of the Sun's corona and testing new electronic cameras. The expedition aims to provide valuable insights into the mechanism that heats the solar corona to millions of degrees.
Researchers developed a new assay to observe real-time gene expression in live cells, providing unprecedented insights into fundamental biological processes. The technique detects protein molecules being produced in small bursts within cells and could reveal the randomness of gene expression.
The Planetary Society and ESA celebrate the imagined rugged beauty of Venus with the winning entries in the 'Postcards from Venus' art contest. The Grand Prize winner, Tatianna Cwick, age 17, has won a trip to the European Space Operations Centre. Other winners include Yoo-Hong Sun, age 9, and Alejandra Gonzalez Quintana, Spain.
Astronomers have discovered the first and only icy exoplanet that matches theoretical predictions for Solar System formation. OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb orbits a small red star at an extremely close distance, with a surface temperature of -220°C, and is likely to resemble Pluto more than rocky planets like Earth.
Researchers found that half of planetary collisions result in impactors bouncing off, leaving them significantly altered. These collisions can strip away atmospheres, crusts, and mantles, producing diverse asteroid populations.
The University of Colorado's Student Dust Counter instrument will monitor dust grain density in space as New Horizons approaches Pluto. The team hopes to identify undetected clumps of dust, shedding light on the solar system's formation and other stars' planetary systems.
Psychologists at the University of Liverpool found that people believe they can see themselves even before they are level with the near edge of a mirror. Participants failed to recognize that the image on the surface of a mirror is half the size of the observer due to its midpoint between them and the reflected image.
The VENUS observatory will support two cable arrays in British Columbia waters, enabling scientists to study the oceans continuously and access data online. The project marks a new era of ocean exploration, driven by cutting-edge technology developed in BC.
The European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft is on its journey to Venus, where it will study the planet's extremely hot atmosphere, high pressure, and mysterious 'super-rotation'. The spacecraft will deploy instruments to probe the surface and atmosphere, with a planned mission duration of at least two Venusian days.
The Venus mission aims to study the planet's surface and atmosphere, with a focus on volcanoes and potential biological activity. The spacecraft will use advanced instruments to detect 'hotspots' in the clouds and make a positive detection of volcanoes.
A worldwide compilation of exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages suggests that prehistoric global warming may have led to the formation of these fossils. The widespread death and burial of animals and their carbon created fossil bonanzas, potentially saving Earth from a heat sterilization event like Venus.
The $400,000 award will fund a starshade-shaped 'New Worlds Observer' that blocks parent star light and captures planet images. Scientists can map planetary systems, detect biomarkers and study features like oceans and continents.
A new study suggests that up to 40% of the early Earth's atmosphere was composed of hydrogen, creating a more favorable climate for the production of pre-biotic organic compounds. This finding contradicts traditional models and supports the idea that life may have emerged earlier than previously thought.
A study by Fisher and Dubé finds that men exhibit significant emotional responses to ads when alone, contrary to the stereotype of women being more 'emotional'. The research reveals that males are sensitive to specific types of emotions in social environments, leading to profound implications for advertisers approaching male customers.
The Cassini Imaging Team report on Titan reveals that the moon's winds blow faster than its surface rotates, with speeds of up to 34 meters per second. The discovery suggests that meteorology works similarly on slowly rotating planets like Venus.
Astronomers have discovered the smallest extra-solar planet to date, orbiting a pulsar in a planetary system resembling our own inner solar system. The new planet is estimated to be one-fifth the mass of Pluto and has an orbit approximately six times larger than its third planet.
Researchers studied the plant's leaves, discovering an 'active snap-buckling instability' that controls rapid closure. The study reveals key mechanisms for the plant's trap-like movement, with implications for biomimetic systems and tiny artificial devices.
Scientists measured a 0.1% reduction in sunlight reaching Earth during a June 8 Venus transit using NASA's SORCE satellite data. This event is comparable to the estimated 50-year decrease in sunlight that occurred during the Little Ice Age in the 17th century.
During next week's transit, NCAR scientist Brown will examine regions of the solar spectrum absorbed by Venus's atmosphere between 65 and 85 kilometers altitude. He will also construct wind patterns based on gases' Doppler shifts to reveal atmospheric composition and temperature.
The SuperWASP facility is now operational, generating vast amounts of data to discover thousands of new planets around nearby stars. Data from the facility will lead to exciting progress in areas of astronomy, including the discovery of exoplanets and early detection of variable objects.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found that heavy metal snow on Venus is actually made of lead sulfide, contradicting previous hypotheses. This discovery could allow for the dating of Venus using lead isotopes, providing a new frontier for space exploration.
University of Arizona researchers used Love's equation to calculate tidal deformation in various spheres, discovering that under specific conditions, the shape of a planet could change dramatically. This may have regulated the size of planets, preventing their formation.
A new study finds that NASA's Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) can detect habitable planets near significantly more massive stars than the sun. The satellite will use interferometry to measure the position of stars and detect tiny wobbles caused by orbiting planets.
Researchers at Duke University have successfully redesigned sensor proteins that can detect a range of molecules, including explosives like TNT and neurotransmitters. This breakthrough could lead to new technologies for monitoring diabetes and locating underwater robots.
The DARE concept uses balloons with a StratoSail device to control their path in strong atmospheric winds, enabling pole-to-pole exploration of Venus and Titan's atmospheres and targeted observations of Mars and Jupiter's Great Red Spot.
Researchers believe that lunar debris may hold fossils from Earth's early microbial life, with potential insights into the evolution of life on our planet. By studying this ancient material, scientists can gain a better understanding of the moon's role as a window into Earth's history.
The StratoSail system uses a wing suspended below the balloon to steer it through wind, enabling maneuvering towards desired regions or away from unfavorable conditions. With NASA funding, this technology aims to increase science observation strategies, safety, and payload recovery for stratospheric balloons.
Research suggests asteroids were responsible for a massive impact event 3.9 billion years ago, which destroyed older rocks and created thousands of craters across the inner solar system. This bombardment may have provided an environment conducive to pre-biotic chemistry and early life evolution.
A study by Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study suggests that Earth's varying reflections can provide clues about distant, potentially habitable planets. By analyzing changes in light over time, scientists may gain insights into a planet's weather, oceans, or even plant life.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found evidence that hot and dry Venus could have had water in its past due to the chemical stability of tremolite at extreme temperatures. This discovery could help scientists determine if they should investigate hydrous minerals on Venus.
A search for lightning on Venus in 1998 and 1999 using the Cassini spacecraft failed to detect high-frequency radio waves commonly associated with lightning. Donald Gurnett, a space physicist at the University of Iowa, suggests that if lightning exists on Venus, it may be extremely rare or very different from terrestrial lightning.
Researchers found that a specific orbital alignment in 2014 provides an ideal escape route back to Earth in case of an emergency on the way to Mars. This trajectory is only possible within a few days of January 14, 2014, making it a critical launch window for future human missions.
A team of Boston University astronomers has captured new ground-based photos of Mercury's surface, revealing details similar to those on the Moon. The images, taken in August 1998, show bright craters and dark lunar mare-like markings, providing insights into Mercury's geology.
The Cangaroo II telescope detects gamma rays emitted by black holes and their surrounding electric and magnetic fields. Researchers aim to study the enormous effect of black holes on galaxy energy and evolution.
Scientists are using lasers to detect gravitational waves, which could help study dark matter and unlock the universe's secrets. The technique involves splitting a laser beam into two halves and comparing them for minute movements caused by space stretching.
Renowned author and futurist Ben Bova will deliver a keynote address at NASA's second 'Turning Goals into Reality' conference, exploring the future of air and space transportation technology. The conference, held May 18-19 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, aims to spotlight aerospace accomplishments by NASA and industry partners.
The Earth's oceans are predicted to evaporate within 1 billion years as the sun's temperature increases, leading to a waterless planet. The process is driven by the sun's increasing brightness, which will eventually cause water to evaporate into space.
Researchers uncover evidence of advanced textile production in Ice Age women, revealing intricately woven clothing and accessories made from plant fibers. The findings challenge traditional images of our ancestors, highlighting the important role that women played in late Pleistocene societies.
When a star swallows a planet, it can experience profound effects on its evolution, including changes in spin rate and emission of infrared radiation. The simulations show that large planets can survive for thousands of years before being vaporized by the heat, leaving behind tell-tale signs such as high lithium abundance.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered the crystal structure of an enzyme that repairs DNA damage caused by sunlight and cigarettes, a key component in the nucleotide excision repair system. The discovery sheds light on how this system differentiates between healthy and damaged DNA and recognizes various lesions.
David Sington has won the 1999 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism, presented by the American Geophysical Union. The award recognizes his work on the eight-part television series "Earth Story," which explores fundamental processes shaping the Earth and its interaction with climate and evolution.
Computer models of Venus' changing climate system may provide insights into Earth's dynamic past and potential future. The models suggest that volcanic activity could have increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to a cooling effect on the planet.
A study of 1,208 young physicians found that women doctors married to other doctors worked fewer hours, earned less money, and took on more family responsibilities. In contrast, men MD2s also experienced benefits, including higher family incomes and successful spouses' careers.
A scientific team's findings suggest that tsunamis may pose a significant threat to the Pacific Rim and other coastline regions due to the instability of submarine structures. The team believes that earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater can trigger massive underwater landslides, resulting in devastating tsunamis.
Io's volcanic hot spots reach surface temperatures of over 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, more than double previous measurements. The extreme temperatures suggest a unique process of differentiation and heavy element composition, shedding light on the moon's geological history.
A new model of Venus suggests that crustal plateaus and volcanic rises were formed by a mechanism similar to hot spot plumes, a process still active on Earth. The thickening of the Venusian lithosphere approximately one billion years ago largely shut down the creation of crustal plateaus.
A NASA instrument package will measure atmospheric conditions on a record-breaking solo balloon flight around the world. The mission aims to simulate planetary missions and educate the public on Earth's lower atmosphere.
A study published by University of Georgia researchers reveals a vast array of novel bacteria in Carolina bays, many of which remain unclassified. The discovery highlights the importance of the microbial world in shaping biodiversity.
Scientists created a 3D computer model of a glutamate receptor, which can be used to develop new drugs for Alzheimer's disease and other disorders. The model accurately represents the receptor's structure and behavior.
A new planet has been discovered around the star 16 Cygni B with an orbital eccentricity of 0.6, unlike any other known planet in our Solar System. This extreme oblong shape indicates the planet experiences significant variations in heat energy as it orbits its host star.
The Arecibo Observatory has completed a $25 million upgrade, increasing its sensitivity by a factor of about 20 for radar studies of the solar system. The new system will allow scientists to listen into cellular phone calls on Venus and detect steel golf balls at moon distances.