Study proves that magma chambers can be totally molten
Researchers challenge long-held idea that magma chambers are composed mostly of crystals. A new study reveals large basaltic magma chambers may be entirely liquid-dominated.
Planetary Bodies
Articles tagged with Planetary Bodies
Mice are shrinking, but are climate change and cities to blame?
Researchers analyzed 70 years of records on North American deer mouse population trends, finding a general decrease in mass over time, despite expected links to climate and urbanization. Urban areas showed shorter mice with similar body mass, hinting at complex relationships between environmental factors and mammalian adaptation.
Hubble observes aftermath of massive collision
Astronomers previously believed Fomalhaut b to be a planet, but Hubble observations reveal it may have been a cloud of dust particles from a titanic collision. The object's unusual brightness and trajectory are explained by a massive dust cloud experiencing radiative forces from the central star.
SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020
New formation theory explains the mysterious interstellar object 'Oumuamua
Researchers used computer simulations to propose a new formation theory for the mysterious interstellar object 'Oumuamua. The theory suggests that objects like 'Oumuamua can form under the influence of tidal forces, explaining its unusual characteristics such as its dry surface and elongated shape.
Evidence of magmatism in early planetesimal
Researchers found evidence of internal melting and differentiation in a carbonaceous meteorite, suggesting that primitive bodies started forming core, mantle, and crust structures. The study connects this process to highly differentiated iron meteorites through isotopic signatures.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020
Hebrew U researcher cracks Newton's elusive '3-body' problem
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem use traditional mathematics to predict planets' movements in unstable three-body systems. Their findings provide a new understanding of these complex processes and are essential for visualizing complicated phenomena.
Focus on food security and sustainability
The researchers highlight the urgent need for investment in research infrastructure to provide reliable data on population health, nutrition, and agricultural practices. An international body is proposed to address pressing nutritional and agricultural issues and prepare policy decisions.
Interstellar comet with a familiar look
A team of scientists from the Jagiellonian University discovered an interstellar comet with a familiar look, providing new insights into exosolar minor bodies. The comet's dusty morphology and reddish hue suggest it may be similar to native Solar System comets.
Researchers use drones to weigh whales
Researchers used drones to take aerial photos of southern right whales, allowing them to calculate body volume and mass without weighing live whales. This innovative method enables new avenues of research into whale physiology and ecology.
Battling BPA with biofilms
The University of Pittsburgh researcher is using biofilms and electrodes to remove BPA from water, a common contaminant found in plastics. The project aims to create an effective method for degrading BPA, which has been linked to fertility problems and other health issues.
Ancient animal species: Fossils dating back 550 million years among first animal trails
A team of scientists has discovered fossils of an ancient animal species, Yilingia spiciformis, which date back approximately 550 million years. The fossilized remains and trails left by the creature provide conclusive evidence of segmented and mobile animals evolving during this time period.
Planetary collisions can drop the internal pressures in planets
Researchers found that giant impacts can dramatically lower a planet's internal pressure after an impact, followed by a longer term increase as the body recovers. This new model could explain puzzling geochemical signatures in Earth's mantle and have major implications for planetary evolution.
Tokyo Tech-led study shows how icy outer solar system satellites may have formed
Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology used computer simulations and observations of trans-Neptunian objects to understand how they may have formed. The study found that the size and orbit of satellite systems around large TNOs are best explained by impacts of molten progenitors.
ASU researchers find water in samples from asteroid Itokawa
Researchers at Arizona State University have detected water in samples from the asteroid Itokawa, which suggests that impacts early in Earth's history may have delivered as much as half of our planet's ocean water. The team used ASU's NanoSIMS technology to analyze tiny mineral grains and found they were enriched in water compared to o...
Microbes in the human body swap genes, even across tissue boundaries, study indicates
Researchers found evidence of gene sharing among human-associated bacteria, with 30% higher rates than natural occurrence. Gene transfer occurred between closely related organisms and across tissue boundaries, facilitating innovation at the microbe level.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalBiology Letters·DateApr 11, 2019
Heavy metal planet fragment survives destruction from dead star
Astronomers from the University of Warwick detected a heavy metal planet fragment orbiting a white dwarf, which is the remains of a dead star. The fragment, rich in iron and nickel, has survived a system-wide cataclysm that followed the death of its host star.
Scientists discover a small, dense planet orbiting a white dwarf
A new study reveals the first intact planetary body orbiting a white dwarf star, with a densely packed planetesimal no larger than 600 kilometers in diameter. The object's high density suggests it may be the remnant core of a planet stripped away by tidal forces.
Hayabusa2 probes asteroid for secrets
The Hayabusa2 mission provides valuable insights into the composition and history of asteroid Ryugu, helping researchers understand the presence or absence of essential materials for life. The study reveals that Ryugu is a dry asteroid, which challenges current models of the early solar system.
Ancient asteroid impacts played a role in creation of Earth's future continents
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.
Missing link in planet evolution found
Scientists have discovered a 1.3 km radius body beyond Neptune's orbit, revealing more about the planet formation process. The detection supports models where planetesimals grow slowly into kilometer-sized objects before merging to form planets.
SwRI scientists find evidence for early planetary shake-up
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute studied the Patroclus-Menoetius binary asteroid pair and found that its existence indicates an earlier dynamical instability. This instability pushed Uranus and Neptune outwards, scattering small bodies into the Kuiper Belt, where they formed the Trojan asteroids.
Researchers at the University of New Mexico uncover remnants of early solar system
Researchers have uncovered the remnants of the early solar system with the discovery of an ancient igneous meteorite containing silica-rich crustal rocks. The oldest recorded igneous meteorite, dating back 4.565 billion years, provides valuable insights into planet formation and volcanic rock compositions in the early solar system.
Jupiter's moons create uniquely patterned aurora on the gas giant planet
New images from the Juno spacecraft reveal that Jupiter's moons Io and Ganymede cast multiple, double-wingshaped auroral footprints on their parent planet. These large lunar bodies decorate the atmosphere with unusual patterns, previously seen as a bright spot footprint of each nearby moon.
Collective gravity, not Planet Nine, may explain the orbits of 'detached objects'
Researchers at CU Boulder propose that 'detached objects' like Sedna may result from the collective gravity of these bodies and space debris in the outer solar system. Computer simulations suggest that these icy objects orbit the sun like the hands of a clock, with smaller objects moving faster than larger ones.
When do aging brown dwarfs sweep the clouds away?
Brown dwarfs, larger cousins of giant planets, undergo atmospheric changes as they age and cool. Astronomers measured the temperature at which this shift happens in young brown dwarfs, finding it occurs around 1,150 degrees kelvin for objects 150 million years old.
Time of day affects severity of autoimmune disease
Research in Nature Communications shows that immune responses and regulation of autoimmunity are affected by the time of day when activated, with master circadian gene BMAL1 playing a key role in sensing and acting on time-of-the-day cues to suppress inflammation.
Research shows why meteroids explode before they reach Earth
Researchers discovered that high-pressure air in front of meteoroids seeps into their pores, cracking them and causing explosions. A unique computer code allowed the team to simulate this phenomenon, explaining why some meteoroids disintegrate before reaching Earth's surface.
A new spin to solving mystery of stellar companions
A study using the W. M. Keck Observatory measured the spin rates of three planetary-mass companions, finding rates similar to those of small free-floating brown dwarfs, suggesting two possibilities: the companions could be brown dwarfs or planets that formed with similar spins
Trickle-down is the solution (to the planetary core formation problem)
Scientists propose that molten metal percolates downward through tiny channels in rocks to form a planet's core. This 'trickle-down' theory contradicts earlier experiments suggesting most metals stay trapped in isolated pores.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 4, 2017
Scientists developed a new sensor for future missions to the Moon and Mars
A team of scientists from MSU developed a compact spectral polarimeter for studying the surface composition of astronomical bodies. The device operates in the near-infrared range and was tested on two minerals simulating lunar and Martian surfaces.
Moon's crust underwent resurfacing after forming from magma ocean
A research team recreated the lunar surface's formation and found that the Moon's crust initially formed from rock floating to the surface of a magma ocean. However, secondary processes resurfaced the Moon, exposing a younger, purer layer of plagioclase crust.
Cool idea: Magma held in 'cold storage' before giant volcano eruption
A team of researchers has found that the magma body at Long Valley was much cooler before the eruption than previously thought. The discovery challenges the traditional view of a long period with a big tank of molten rock in the crust, instead suggesting that magma is stored for a short period in a cool, crystalline state.
SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 6, 2017
Scientists update 4 key fundamental constants
The updated values of Planck Constant and others bring world closer to revised measurement system, ensuring uniformly precise measurements that scale smoothly from almost infinitesimal to enormous. The new definition will redefine the SI's seven base units, including kilogram, kelvin, and ampere.
Remote sensing for cosmic dust and other celestial bodies
Polarimetry offers improved descriptions of small bodies by analyzing reflected radiation's intensity and polarization. Scientists can measure asteroids' size, reveal dust composition in comets or planetary atmospheres, and detect potential biomarkers.
The volatile processes that shaped the Earth
New research from Oxford University sheds light on the formation of the Earth and its depletion of vital chemical elements. By simulating early Earth conditions, scientists found that melting and evaporation played a key role in shaping the planet's chemistry.
Scientists propose new concept of terrestrial planet formation
Scientists propose a new concept of terrestrial planet formation involving heat-pipes, which transport heat from interior to surface via mantle melting and magma ascent. This hypothesis resolves major outstanding problems across all planets, including the formation of volcanic terrains and lithospheres.
More evidence of water on Mars
Researchers have found river deposits on Mars that date back over 3.5 billion years, indicating a surface environment capable of supporting liquid water. The study suggests that large fluctuations in the size of the water body forced the formation of paleo-valleys, revealing long-term stability in the controlling water body.
NASA-funded research at USC provides evidence of ground-ice on asteroids
Research at USC Viterbi School of Engineering has provided evidence for the occurrence of ground ice on protoplanet Vesta, a NASA-sponsored study that utilized bistatic radar techniques. The findings suggest large, smooth areas on Vesta correlated with higher hydrogen concentrations, supporting the presence of ground ice.
Ancient asteroid family unveils the early solar system
A group of dark asteroids with related orbits have been identified as part of a previously unknown family, estimated to be roughly 4 billion years old. The discovery provides valuable information on the size distribution of original planetesimal bodies and challenges traditional theories of asteroid formation.
Deadly heat waves could hit South Asia this century
A new study predicts that South Asia, home to one-fifth of the world's population, will experience extreme heat waves with high humidity by the end of this century if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. The region's poor and agricultural communities will be disproportionately affected.
The curious case of the warped Kuiper Belt
A new study has found evidence of a yet-to-be-discovered planetary body with a mass between Mars and Earth, warping the orbital planes of Kuiper Belt objects. The object's presence is suggested by its control over the tilt angles of KBOs' orbital planes, indicating a gravitational influence comparable to that of Mars.
Deciphering the fluid floorplan of a planet
Researchers analyzed drainage patterns on three planets, revealing that long-wavelength features dominate the layout of river networks. The study suggests that short-wavelength features like mountains can divert rivers, leading to poor correlation between river flow directions and large-scale landscape topography.
ALMA investigates 'DeeDee,' a distant, dim member of our solar system
Astronomers have revealed extraordinary details about 2014 UZ224, also known as DeeDee, using ALMA. The icy body is roughly 635 kilometers across and has enough mass to be spherical, but lacks official dwarf planet status.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 12, 2017
Exploring ocean waters to characterize atmospheric aerosols
Researchers from the University of Geneva linked marine biological aerosols to ocean water characteristics, enabling indirect study through water analysis. This discovery simplifies aerosol characterization and enhances climate models' accuracy.
Scientists make the case to restore Pluto's planet status
A group of scientists led by Kirby Runyon argue for a definition of 'planet' that focuses on the body's intrinsic qualities, such as mass and gravitational shape. This new definition would expand the number of planets in our solar system to approximately 110, including Pluto.
Dwarf star 200 light years away contains life's building blocks
A UCLA-led team of scientists has discovered a white dwarf star with an atmosphere rich in carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen, the components of water. The study suggests that the planetary system associated with the white dwarf contains materials necessary for life.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 9, 2017
Today's rare meteorites were once common
Researchers discovered most modern meteorites are rare, while many rare ones existed before a massive asteroid collision. Analyzing ancient micrometeorites and meteorites, the study found distinct differences in their composition.
Enormous dome in central Andes driven by huge magma body beneath it
Researchers have discovered a huge dome in the central Andes formed by a massive magma body beneath it. The Altiplano-Puna plateau, which includes parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, has been uplifted by about one-fifth due to the injection of magma from below.
New species of extremely leggy millipede discovered in a cave in California
A new species of leggy millipede, named Illacme tobini, has been discovered in a California cave. The species boasts over 414 legs, similar to its cousin Illacme plenipes, but with unique features like poison glands and silk-secreting hairs.
Studying life on the rocks
A team of scientists has developed an apparatus to measure the behavior of ice under various external forces. The device can be used to study both terrestrial glaciers and icy satellite bodies, providing insights into potential life-supporting oceans beneath the ice.
Close encounters of a tidal kind could lead to cracks on icy moons
Researchers developed a new model that suggests strong tidal encounters could be responsible for cracks on icy moons. The model, which uses computer graphics code to simulate the behavior of icy moons, indicates that such encounters could lead to cracks in the surface.
VLA shows earliest stages of planet formation
Astronomers have observed the inner portion of a protoplanetary disk surrounding HL Tau, with VLA images showing a distinct clump of dust containing roughly 3-8 times the mass of Earth. The region is thought to be where Earth-like planets would form.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 17, 2016
Why celestial bodies come in different sizes
Researchers propose that a universe with diverse body sizes reduces gravitational tension faster due to the natural tendency of systems to evolve toward reduced tension. This phenomenon is a manifestation of the Constructal Law, which states that natural systems facilitate flow.
Scientists discover 530-million-year-old fossils of ancient, microscopic worms
A team of researchers has discovered fossils of kinorhynch worms, also known as mud dragons, dating back over 530 million years. The historic find provides crucial insights into the evolution of body segmentation among animals.
UCLA professor proposes simpler way to define what makes a planet
A UCLA professor has proposed a simpler way to define what makes a planet, extending the current definition to all planetary systems. The new approach requires estimates of star mass and planet mass and orbital period, which can be easily obtained with Earth- or space-based telescopes.
The missing 'recipe'
Researchers have developed a theoretical description of thermal conduction, accounting for both atomic and electronic behavior, allowing for accurate numerical simulations. This breakthrough enables scientists to study complex materials and processes, such as those found on planets, with unprecedented precision.
Are fish the greatest athletes on the planet?
Research reveals fish have a more efficient oxygen delivery system than humans, allowing them to thrive in various water conditions. This adaptation is crucial for their survival, particularly during times of stress or low oxygen levels.
UB to study dangers of diver dehydration for US Navy
Researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions will examine diver physiology during and after underwater activities. The study aims to develop Navy diving protocols to prolong endurance and make missions safer for divers.
New perturbative method of solving the gravitational N-body problem in general relativity
A new approach breaks down the N-body problem into inertial and local reference frames, allowing for the solution of the Einstein field equations with accuracy. The results have practical applications in astronomy, geodesy, and astrophysics.
Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus?
A team of researchers has discovered that the presence of salty impurities in ice can push the formation of electrically conducting ice to occur at higher pressures, potentially explaining the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. This finding challenges current assumptions about the physics of icy planetary bodies.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 2015