Articles tagged with Comets
Researchers observe 'comet-shaped' structures forming on agar plates, indicating active motility in MRSA, a spherical bacterium with no propulsive tail or appendages. This discovery could have implications for future clinical treatments and open up new avenues of research into Gram-positive bacteria.
Jason Dworkin, chief of NASA's Astrochemistry Laboratory, has made significant contributions to our understanding of the early solar system through his research on organic compounds in meteorites, comets, and asteroids. His work has identified amino acids and nucleobases that are precursors to essential biological molecules, shedding l...
A newly discovered exoplanet, HD 106906 b, may have been violently ejected from its birthplace close to its star due to a recent gravitational disturbance. The planet is surrounded by a large dust ring or shroud, which could be evidence of the violent episode.
Researchers found that tiny dips in a star's brightness can indicate a planet passing in front of it, but star KIC 8462852 had deep and irregular dips. The astronomers concluded that the destruction of a family of comets near the star is the most likely explanation for the mysterious dimming.
A new study found that Mercury is being pelted by ancient comet dust, impacting its tenuous atmosphere and surface boundary exosphere. The researchers discovered a cometary dust stream from Comet Encke that explains the timing of calcium emission peaks in the planet's exosphere.
Comet Lovejoy released large amounts of ethyl alcohol and glycolaldehyde into space, adding to evidence that comets could be a source of complex organic molecules necessary for life. The discovery supports the idea that comets carried sophisticated chemistry to Earth during its early stages.
New study finds a cyclical pattern between impact craters and extinction events every 26 million years, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship. This cosmic cycle is linked to periodic motion of the sun and planets, affecting life on Earth over the past 260 million years.
A SwRI-led study found that a comet's tail can provide insights into the solar wind's variable nature and high temperatures. Turbulence in the solar wind was observed to drive high-temperatures, while mixing of turbulent motions explains variability.
A new study using NASA's Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) revealed that the solar wind's turbulence explains its hot temperatures and variable behavior. Scientists tracked hundreds of ionized gas clumps in Comet Encke's tail to reconstruct the solar wind's motion, catching an unprecedented look at turbulence.
Scientists used computer simulation to discover that asteroids can deliver more water to the lunar surface than the cumulative fall of comets over a billion year period. The study found that asteroids contain a significant proportion of water, effectively protected in their crystal lattice of minerals, and can release it when heated.
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory has discovered its 3,000th comet, thanks to a volunteer astronomer in Thailand. This milestone marks a significant achievement for SOHO's comet project, with over 200 comets found annually by citizen scientists.
Researchers found that comet impacts can synthesize peptides, the first building blocks of life, under cold conditions. This suggests that comet impacts played a crucial role in delivering life's seeds to early Earth.
SwRI scientists suggest that geologic activity brings nitrogen up from Pluto's interior to resupply its atmosphere. They also consider the possibility of cryovolcanism and ongoing geysers as sources of nitrogen.
Recent Philae landings have provided new data on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, including its surface composition, mechanical properties, and the presence of organic compounds. The findings suggest a highly porous and dust-ice-rich surface with a compressive strength that could improve future comet missions.
The Rosetta spacecraft has captured unprecedented imagery of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gersimenko, revealing large, circular sinkholes formed by surface collapse. The study suggests that these pits are a result of ices beneath the surface sublimating, causing the ceiling to collapse and exposing younger, relatively young ice chunks.
Researchers discovered that actin polymerization powered by the Arp2/3 complex is essential for forming and moving autophagosomes. The formation of 'actin comet tails' propels these compartments toward lysosomes for final processing, enabling cells to recycle misfolded proteins and damaged organelles.
The Rosetta spacecraft's ultraviolet instrument has made a surprising discovery about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, revealing that electrons near the comet's surface break up water and carbon dioxide molecules, not solar photons. This finding fundamentally transforms our knowledge of comets.
Researchers at Brown University propose that comet collisions may have formed lunar swirls through the scouring of loose soil. Computer simulations suggest that impacts from cometary comas can produce bright streaks on the moon's surface.
Researchers from University of Hawai'i - Mānoa discover that larger dust particles in comet Wild 2 are similar to rocks found in primitive meteorites called chondrites. The smaller-sized dust displays a range of oxygen isotopic compositions, deepening the mystery of Wild 2's past.
Scientists discover complex organic molecules in a protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star, hinting at the universality of prebiotic chemistry. The presence of these molecules, particularly methyl cyanide, suggests that protoplanetary disks are efficient factories for forming complex organic compounds.
Researchers propose that comet dust, rich in carbon, has painted Mercury black over billions of years. The team's experiments show that tiny carbon particles can darken surfaces to less than 5% reflectivity, similar to Mercury's dark surface.
A unique comet, not part of a known family, survives its trip to within 2.2 million miles of the sun's surface. This is one of the few instances where a comet has been observed and recorded by SOHO in recent years.
Research suggests that Earth's movement through dark matter may perturb comets' orbits, leading to heat in the Earth's core, which could trigger events like volcanic eruptions and changes in sea level. This phenomenon may hold the answer to understanding large-scale extinction events.
Researchers analyzed the trajectory of Scholz's star and found it passed through the outer Oort Cloud, 98% certain of its close flyby. The star's proximity to our solar system was confirmed, challenging previous predictions for the closest known flyby.
Scientists report early measurements of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's subsurface temperature and gas production from the European Space Agency's Rosetta Mission. The team used NASA's Microwave Instrument on the Rosetta Orbiter to study heat transport, outgassing, and coma development.
The comet's coma composition changes in response to temperature and seasonal variations, suggesting a complex nucleus-nucleus relationship. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that comets are made mostly of water ice.
The Rosetta mission provided the closest-ever look at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, revealing its structure, surface features, and composition. The study helps scientists understand how comets form and evolve over time.
The Rosetta spacecraft's successful landing on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko marked a major breakthrough in comet analysis. The mission has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of comets, potentially shedding light on the delivery of water and organic molecules to early Earth.
Researchers analyzed samples from the Sudbury Basin and found chondritic platinum group elements, which suggest a comet impact. The distribution of these elements indicates that the impactor was indeed a comet.
Two NASA and European spacecraft have gathered data about Comet Siding Spring's effects on Mars' atmosphere, detecting an intense meteor shower and a new layer of ions. The comet's debris added significant but temporary changes to the planet's upper atmosphere.
Cyclone Nilofar is exhibiting a comet-like tail and core due to wind shear. The storm has weakened significantly, expected to become a depression by November 1, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to the region.
The study reveals two distinct families of exocomets in the Beta Pictoris system: old and recent ones. The old family has weak activity with low gas production rates, while the second family is more active and likely originates from a single object's breakup.
The MAVEN spacecraft successfully navigated a close pass by comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring, providing valuable insights into the Red Planet's upper atmosphere and interaction with the solar wind. The mission will continue to study Mars' atmosphere and its effects on the planet's geology.
The Rosetta spacecraft has woken up from its 957-day hibernation, sparking jubilation among scientists and engineers. The mission aims to unlock the mysteries of how our solar system formed and developed into what we see today.
The Rosetta-Alice spectrograph has obtained the first far ultraviolet spectra of a cometary surface, revealing an unusually dark comet surface and no large water-ice patches. Hydrogen and oxygen have been detected in the comet's coma.
Researchers analyzed space dust collected by NASA's Stardust mission, finding complex composition and structure, and potentially originating from beyond our solar system. The study provides a first glimpse into the diversity and complexity of interstellar dust.
Researchers analyzed seven grains of possible interstellar dust, finding they are more complex in composition and structure than previously imagined. The analysis opens a door to studying the origins of the solar system and possibly the origin of life itself.
Comet Siding Spring is producing about 2 billion water molecules per second, equivalent to filling an Olympic-size pool in 14 hours. The icy nucleus is estimated to be around 2,300 feet across, placing it at the lower end of a size range.
The Rosetta-Alice spectrograph is starting its science mission to study the origin, composition, and workings of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will analyze the comet's atmosphere, map its surface, and study fine dust particles.
Research at NIST reveals that the clumping density of soot particles is a constant value of 0.36, regardless of size range. This finding has significant implications for climate researchers and may help develop new measurement standards for atmospheric aerosols.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that most supposed impact indicators at 29 sites are too old or too young to be remnants of an ancient comet. The researchers tested existing stratigraphic and chronological data sets to determine if these markers dated to the onset of the Younger Dr...
Asteroid and comet impacts can preserve the signatures of ancient life in Earthly impact debris. Researchers found fragments of leaves and preserved organic compounds in ancient impact glasses from Argentina, which could provide a snapshot of environmental conditions at the time of those impacts.
The University of Leeds is set to host two national centres for Earth observation research, driving economic growth through space technologies. Scientists will analyse satellite data to track climate change and ice sheet movements, providing unprecedented views of the planet.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of Mars-bound comet Siding Spring, revealing two jets of dust emanating from the nucleus. This observation will help astronomers determine the direction of the nucleus's pole and axis of rotation.
Astronomers using ALMA telescope discover compact region of carbon monoxide gas swirling around young star Beta Pictoris, suggesting total destruction of comet every five minutes. The detection implies a massive swarm of icy bodies, possibly two Mars-size planets colliding within the past million years.
Researchers discovered a compact cloud of poisonous gas formed by ongoing collisions among a swarm of icy bodies, suggesting an unseen planet with Saturn-like mass. The study suggests that the comet swarm could be the remnant of a crash between two Mars-sized icy planets or frozen debris trapped by the gravity of the hypothetical planet.
Researchers have found a mysterious 'shepherd' exoplanet in the Beta Pictoris system, which suggests that the system may be capable of supporting life. The planet is believed to be about the size of Saturn and is thought to be responsible for corraling a swarm of icy comets.
Daniel W. Armstrong, a professor at UT Arlington, will receive the ACS Award in Separations Science and Technology for his development of novel applications with major impacts in the field of separation science and technology. He has also made significant contributions to chromatography, including the development of over 30 different t...
Comet ISON successfully passed close to the sun, shedding light on its composition and behavior. Despite initial hopes for a bright display, the comet's nucleus likely broke apart due to intense heat, producing limited dust tail observations.
Scientists believe Comet ISON may have been destroyed upon approaching the sun, leaving behind small rubble pieces. Telescopes will observe and detect any remaining fragments to confirm the comet's status.
Comet ISON's size reduced significantly as it approached the sun, with observations revealing a potential debris field and unclear nucleus remnants. The comet's unprecedented observation history will provide valuable data for scientists to study in the years to come.
Researchers carefully measure Comet ISON's brightness to infer its current state, as it approaches perihelion on November 28, 2013. The comet's behavior over several days suggests it may be disintegrating or intact.
Comet ISON, a time capsule from the solar system's formation, will be observed by NASA's solar observing fleet as it approaches the sun. The comet's journey will provide valuable insights into the solar wind and atmosphere.
FORTIS will observe the comet's molecules and atoms by separating incoming light into its component wavelengths, gathering information from several areas at once. The comet's rate of sublimation increases as it approaches the sun, allowing FORTIS to capture observations of this material coming off the comet.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have observed a unique asteroid with six comet-like tails, challenging current understanding of asteroids and comets. The asteroid's rotation rate may have caused its surface to fly apart, ejecting dust into space.
A team of scientists has discovered the first-ever evidence of a comet striking Earth, with implications for understanding the solar system's formation. The discovery involves a mysterious black pebble containing the first known hand specimen of a comet nucleus.
The San Diego Supercomputer Center has been awarded a $12-million grant to deploy the 'Comet' petascale supercomputer, designed to expand access and capacity among traditional and non-traditional research domains. The system will provide nearly two petaflops of peak performance, supporting a broader range of researchers.
Scientists confirm that impact synthesis of prebiotic material can yield life-building compounds, expanding the inventory of locations where life could potentially originate. The team found that icy bodies with similar compounds to those created by comet impacts may be present in the outer solar system.
A University of Tennessee professor helped discover that a near-Earth object is actually a comet, not an asteroid. The body, 3552 Don Quixote, contains water ice and has a coma and tail, suggesting it may be the source of Earth's water.
A Northern Arizona University-led team used the Spitzer Space Telescope to detect cometary activity in asteroid (3552) Don Quixote, a near-Earth object that was previously thought to be dead. The discovery suggests that water and carbon dioxide ice deposits may still exist on other near-Earth asteroids.