Scientists measured and compared amino acid abundances with rocky components of Ryugu particles, demonstrating water's role in their formation. The results suggest more ice was present in the precursor of one particle than the other, which may have contributed to the high abundance of a specific amino acid.
SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2023
A team of astronomers discovered a population of reddish Neptunian asteroids, which are thought to have formed beyond the transition boundary between neutral-colored and redder objects. The red coloration suggests these asteroids contain more volatile ices, providing insight into the early Solar System's conditions.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 28, 2023
Researchers attribute unusual radar properties to coherent backscatter opposition effect (CBOE) and ice surface irregularities. The CBOE model, improved by Hofgartner and Hand, can explain all icy satellite radar properties.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2023
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers suggest studying well-preserved grains of space dust for potential signs of life, as they could contain fossils of microorganisms. The idea estimates that around 100,000 such grains could land on Earth every year.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalInternational Journal of Astrobiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2023
Researchers Jennifer Bergner and Darryl Seligman suggest that 'Oumuamua's acceleration can be explained by the outgassing of hydrogen gas as the comet warmed up in the sunlight. The comet's small size allowed for a significant effect, with the tiny push from hydrogen spurted out of ice altering its gravitational deflection around the sun.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 22, 2023
Scientists have detected uracil and nicotinic acid in asteroid Ryugu samples collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. The discovery suggests that important building blocks for life were created in space and delivered to Earth via meteorites, supporting current theories on the source of nucleobases.
SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2023
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
The ESO VLT observed the aftermath of the DART impact, showing that the ejected cloud was bluer than the asteroid itself, indicating fine particles. The team found no signs of ice or DART spacecraft propellant, but detected changes in light polarization suggesting altered surface composition.
SourceESO·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateMar 21, 2023
The DART mission observed a 33-minute change in the orbit of Dimorphos, indicating that ejecta escaped the system and contributed to the orbital changes. The team will use this data to understand how the entire system's orbit changes over time.
SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2023
The Hubble movie reveals surprising hour-by-hour changes as dust and chunks of debris were flung into space. The dynamic interaction within the binary system starts to distort the ejecta pattern, forming rotating pinwheel-shaped features tied to the gravitational pull of Didymos.
SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
The DART mission successfully deflected the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos by 33 minutes. The team's calculations showed that the momentum transferred to Dimorphos was significantly enhanced by the recoil created from streams of particles produced by the impact, exceeding initial expectations.
SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalNature·DateMar 1, 2023
The DART mission successfully demonstrates the feasibility of redirecting near-Earth objects like asteroids to prevent large-scale destruction. The spacecraft's impact on Dimorphos, a small asteroid moon, resulted in an orbital change that confirms the viability of asteroid deflection as a planetary defense strategy.
SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 1, 2023
Citizen scientists from Unistellar network observe and analyze NASA's DART impact, supporting the efficiency of kinetic impactor technique to deflect asteroids. The study confirms the success of planetary defense methods, making significant contributions to humanity's quest to understand the universe.
SourceSETI Institute·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023
The Politecnico di Milano has successfully contributed to the DART mission, a historic planetary defense test that deflected an asteroid's trajectory. The mission's scientific results reveal the effectiveness of kinetic impact technology in planetary defense and provide insights into the structure and evolution of binary asteroids.
SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
Researchers at Tohoku University analyzed samples from Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft and identified what they believe may be the oldest solids from the solar system. The grains were likely transported outward from the inner regions of the early solar system to their current location in the outer reaches.
SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 28, 2023
A team from Heidelberg University discovered a new class of asteroids rich in water, similar to dwarf planet Ceres. The small bodies are thought to have formed in a cold region at the edge of the Solar System before being impacted by gravitational disruptions.
SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 20, 2023
Scientists at the University of Jena have solved a decades-long puzzle by studying quartz samples under extreme pressure. They discovered that characteristic lamellae, which are often used to detect asteroid impacts, form when quartz transforms into a more tightly packed phase under high pressure.
SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023
Researchers at Imperial College London found that around half of Earth's zinc inventory came from asteroids in the outer Solar System, contributing to the emergence of life on Earth. The study suggests that this material supplied other important volatiles like water, crucial for sustaining life.
SourceImperial College London·JournalScience·DateJan 27, 2023
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
Researchers discovered that asteroid Itokawa is resistant to collision and has survived for nearly 4.2 billion years due to its rubble pile composition. This finding could lead to more effective defense strategies against potentially hazardous asteroids, including the use of nuclear blasts to nudge them off course.
SourceCurtin University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 23, 2023
Researchers analyzing Ryugu asteroid samples found minerals produced through water reactions over 4.5 billion years ago, providing insight into the solar system's infancy. The discovery sheds light on asteroid accretion and the formation of planets like Earth.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 18, 2023
An international team of scientists suggests that an outward, fast migration of Jupiter can distort the configuration of Trojan swarms, resulting in more stable orbits in one swarm than the other. This new mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed asymmetry in the number of asteroids in the L4 and L5 swarms.
SourceNew York University·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJan 17, 2023
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center simulated the formation of amino acids and amines in laboratory conditions, similar to those found in interstellar clouds. The results suggest that these precursors to life can survive their journey to asteroids and potentially form the basis of life on Earth.
SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalACS Earth and Space Chemistry·DateJan 11, 2023
Researchers recreated interstellar cloud and asteroid conditions to understand how carbonaceous chondrites acquired amino acids, finding that interstellar cloud conditions are resilient to asteroid processing but influence the amount of amino acids present.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalACS Earth and Space Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 11, 2023
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
Researchers studied asteroid Ryugu's surface composition using X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy and electron microscopy. They found dehydrated serpentine minerals and a water-rich interior, suggesting space weathering plays a key role in asteroid evolution.
SourceDiamond Light Source·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 19, 2022
A new study suggests that comet impacts can transport oxidants from Europa's surface to its ocean, increasing the probability of finding life. The research model shows that if an impact reaches halfway through the moon's icy shell, meltwater sinks to the ocean, bringing critical chemicals.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 14, 2022
New research on asteroid samples from Ryugu reveals similarities to Ivuna-like carbonaceous chondrites, providing a better understanding of the early solar system. The study also sheds light on the accretion of volatiles during planetary formation and finds that Ryugu-like material accounts for ~5-6% of Earth's mass.
SourceInstitut de physique du globe de Paris·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 12, 2022
Researchers developed a new lidar technique using 3D flash lidar combined with super-resolution algorithm for hazard avoidance during landing. The technique improved the precision and safety of robotic vehicles on Mars, enabling them to navigate through challenging environments.
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
A Martian megatsunami was likely triggered by an asteroid collision similar to the Chicxulub impact that led to mass extinctions on Earth. The crater formed as a result of this impact may have caused a tsunami that reached over 1,500 kilometres from the center, measuring up to 250 meters tall on land.
SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 1, 2022
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that small asteroids are probably young because of their loose internal structure and low cohesion. This finding has important implications for understanding the geological development of asteroids.
SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 30, 2022
A recent study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that Mars was once covered in a 300-metre-deep ocean, filled with water and icy asteroids carrying biologically important molecules. This finding suggests that conditions allowing the emergence of life were present on Mars long before Earth.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 17, 2022
Researchers from Osaka University have successfully detected carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in samples from near-Earth asteroid Ryugu using muon non-destructive analysis. The findings suggest that CI chondrites may be contaminated with terrestrial materials, challenging previous understanding of the solar system's chemical compositions.
SourceOsaka University·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateNov 13, 2022
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
The SwRI experiment helped predict the effects of NASA's DART impact on asteroid Dimorphos. The study assessed ejecta momentum enhancement created by the space probe's collision, measuring a 3.4-fold increase in momentum transfer.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2022
An international team has discovered three near-Earth asteroids, including one that is 1.5 kilometers wide and may someday threaten Earth's path. The observations were made possible by the unique capabilities of the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 31, 2022
The study includes 191 asteroids' radar cross sections and Doppler-frequency broadening, offering clues to asteroids' spin periods and sizes. The research also discovered two metal-rich near-Earth asteroids and five possible enstatite-rich asteroids, shedding new light on the formation and evolution of the solar system.
SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 24, 2022
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
Researchers have developed a method to map an asteroid's interior structure based on its spin changes during close encounters with Earth. This technique, called AIME, could help scientists plan more effective defense strategies for asteroids like Apophis, which poses a significant hazard if it were to make impact.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 19, 2022
A new surveillance constellation concept aims to detect and track near-Earth asteroids, providing early warning and tracking capabilities. The system consists of six space-based surveyors and a mothership, which work together to monitor the orbits of potentially hazardous asteroids.
SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace: Science & Technology·DateOct 17, 2022
Researchers have identified a potential source of shock-darkened meteorites, which could explain discrepancies in how near-Earth asteroids are classified. The asteroid, 1998 OR2, is about 1.5 miles wide and shows characteristics that suggest it has undergone shock darkening.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 4, 2022
A Curtin-led research team found asteroid impacts on the Moon millions of years ago coincide with large meteorite impacts on Earth, such as the one that wiped out dinosaurs. The study also reveals that major impact events on Earth were accompanied by smaller impacts, providing new insights into asteroid dynamics.
SourceCurtin University·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 28, 2022
Scientists from the University of Rochester have provided a more accurate simulation of the impact that formed Earth’s largest crater two billion years ago. The new research suggests the impactor was much larger, about 20 to 25 kilometers in diameter, and traveling at a velocity of 15 to 20 kilometers per second.
SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Planets·DateSep 26, 2022
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Researchers used muon beams to analyze Asteroid Ryugu samples, finding essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. However, the oxygen abundance relative to silicon was 25% less than expected, suggesting contamination after atmospheric entry.
SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalScience·DateSep 22, 2022
Researchers used the Advanced Photon Source to study asteroid fragments from Ryugu, finding they were made of water and carbon dioxide ice. The analysis suggests the asteroid formed over 4 billion years ago in the outer solar system, with a hydrated interior and dryer surface.
SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateSep 22, 2022
Julie Castillo-Rogez and Martin Jutzi have made significant contributions to understanding asteroids, including their origins and dynamical evolution. Their work has advanced our knowledge of asteroids, from small bodies to planetary scales, with implications for ongoing space missions.
Researchers located four new craters created by impacts on Mars' surface using data from a seismometer and visuals acquired from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is the first time that researchers have captured the dynamics of an impact on Mars.
SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 21, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
A new study suggests that massive volcanic eruptions were the primary cause of mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. The research found a strong temporal connection between flood basalt eruptions and significant climatic events.
SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2022
Scientists have developed a new method to distinguish between normal land structures and small asteroid craters by analyzing charcoal samples, revealing 30% of impact sites remain unlocated. The study found unique characteristics in impact charcoals that differ from wildfire charcoals.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalGeology·DateSep 1, 2022
Researchers found compact fragments in the Aguas Zarcas meteorite that wouldn't break apart, leading to CT scans revealing deformed rocks with the same orientation. The team proposed a hypothesis that asteroids 'spit out' pebbles due to high-speed collisions and thermal cycling, which can cause rock brittleness.
Research on asteroid 2008 TC3 reveals that larger meteorites survived to the ground, contradicting previous assumptions about interior shielding. The study's findings provide new insights into asteroid fragmentation and the origins of space rocks.
SourceSETI Institute·JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2022
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
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.
A global team led by researchers from Curtin University used a supercomputer-powered technology to explore the geology of Mars without leaving home. They found that the ancient Martian meteorite NWA 7034 was ejected 5-10 million years ago from the north-east of the Terra Cimmeria - Sirenum province, in the southern hemisphere of Mars.
SourcePawsey Supercomputing Research Centre·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJul 12, 2022
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.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 11, 2022
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
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.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalScience·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 7, 2022
Researchers found the moon's crust was highly porous, about one-third as porous as pumice, due to massive impacts that shattered much of the crust. The team estimated the moon experienced double the number of impacts as seen on its surface, which limits constraints on solar system formation and evolution.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 7, 2022
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.
SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·DateJun 29, 2022
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.
SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 23, 2022
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.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Planets·DateJun 15, 2022
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
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.
SourceOkayama University·JournalProceedings of the Japan Academy·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 9, 2022
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.
SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·DateJun 9, 2022
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.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalIcarus·DateMay 17, 2022
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
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.
A team of scientists has identified the last two DNA and RNA nucleobases missing from extraterrestrial samples, shedding light on the potential origin of life on Earth. The discovery suggests that chemical reactions in asteroids can create essential ingredients for life.
SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 26, 2022