A recent experiment by UC Riverside astrophysicist Stephen Kane demonstrates that a terrestrial planet in this location would have disastrous effects on the solar system. The simulation found that such a planet could destabilize Earth's orbit, making it far less habitable and potentially ejecting Mercury and Venus from the solar system.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2023
University of Arizona engineers create autonomous vehicle system that allows robots to scout out underground habitats on other planets. The 'Breadcrumb-Style Dynamically Deployed Communication Network' paradigm enables robots to work together without human input, addressing NASA's space technology grand challenges.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalAdvances in Space Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 1, 2023
The discovery of TOI-5205b, a Jupiter-sized gas giant, contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The planet's existence raises questions about the role of rocky material in forming massive cores and its potential to form gas giants despite these guardrails.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 22, 2023
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Researchers have observed an exoplanet whose orbit is decaying around an aging star, providing the first look at a solar system this late in its life cycle. The doomed world, Kepler-1658b, has less than 3 million years left before colliding with its expanding star.
SourcePrinceton University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 19, 2022
Researchers find that airborne chemical methyl bromide is a compelling indicator of biological activity on other planets. Its detectability increases around M dwarf stars, making it an attractive target for future missions to search for extraterrestrial life.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateOct 11, 2022
Astronomers using JWST have detected unambiguous evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of WASP-39b, a Saturn-mass exoplanet. The discovery provides valuable insights into giant planet composition and heavy element abundance, with implications for understanding how planets form.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateAug 25, 2022
The 2022 Europlanet Science Congress will bring together planetary scientists to discuss life beyond Earth. Over 60 scientific sessions cover topics such as current and upcoming missions, astrobiology, and space weather.
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The Biofinder instrument has successfully detected bio-residue in ancient fish fossils from the Green River formation, confirming that biological residues can survive millions of years. The device's capabilities make it an ideal tool for future NASA missions to detect signs of past life on other planetary bodies.
SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 24, 2022
Researchers found that planetary systems around binary stars form differently than those around single stars, potentially creating new targets for extraterrestrial life. The study also suggests that comets could play a key role in delivering organic molecules necessary for life.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature·DateMay 23, 2022
The system uses multiple satellites to form an aperture-synthetic interferometer, meeting four key demands: high spatial resolution, contrast, sensitivity, and wide spectral range. Numerical simulations validate the method's efficiency, with reduced transfer times and stable orbit maintenance.
SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace: Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2022
Methane may be the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth, according to a new study that establishes conditions for biological activity. The researchers found that atmospheric methane is more likely to be considered a strong indication of life if it co-exists with carbon dioxide and lacks carbon monoxide.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 28, 2022
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Researchers used lab-based mimicry to reveal a new crystal structure that has major implications for our understanding of the interiors of large, rocky exoplanets. This discovery could have revolutionary implications for how we think about the dynamics of exoplanet interiors.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2022
The study provides the first detailed view of an exoplanet's global atmosphere, revealing a water cycle that dwarfs Earth's jetstream. The planet's night side is home to iron clouds, titanium rain, and winds that whip around at speeds of up to 5 kilometers per second.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 21, 2022
Researchers analyzing Martian sediment samples suggest three possible explanations for the carbon's origin, including cosmic dust, ultraviolet degradation of carbon dioxide, or biological activity. The findings provide insights into the ancient Mars' carbon cycle and its potential habitability.
SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2022
Researchers have discovered a giant gas planet, TOI-2180 b, with a diameter comparable to Jupiter's and a mass nearly three times that of Earth. The planet is also believed to contain 105 times the mass of elements heavier than helium and hydrogen.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·DateJan 13, 2022
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Astronomers used data from ESO's large telescopes and space-based facilities to spot tens of millions of sources in a wide area of the sky, identifying over 70 rogue planets comparable to Jupiter's mass. The discovery could provide clues on how these mysterious objects form, with further advances needed to study them in greater detail.
Researchers found over 70-170 free-floating planets (FFPs) in the Upper Scorpius young stellar association, almost doubling the number of known FFPs. The sheer number suggests that planets formed around stars and then banished to darkness are an important contribution.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2021
Researchers are using a multi-disciplinary approach to study the habitability of exoplanets, with Mars serving as a key example. The team is analyzing the atmospheres of different planets and how they might retain them under various conditions.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·DateDec 9, 2021
A team of scientists simulated over 200,000 hypothetical Earth-like worlds to understand the types of environments astronomers can expect to find on real exoplanets. They found that in 90% of cases with liquid water on the surface, there are no ice sheets, but rather permanent ice belts along the equator.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 8, 2021
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Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
Astronomers have discovered an ultra-short-period planet GJ 367 b, which orbits its star in just eight hours and has a radius of 72% that of Earth. The planet's mass is 55% of the Earth's, indicating it likely has an iron-rich core, similar to Mercury's interior.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateDec 2, 2021
Researchers used TRAPPIST-1's harmonious orbits to determine the impact history of its seven Earth-sized planets. The study found that these planets could have withstood only limited late bombardment, implying a relatively small amount of water arrived on time for potential life.
SourceRice University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 25, 2021
The University of Sydney's project searches for Earth-like planets around Alpha Centauri to determine if life could survive there. The team is using advanced telescope technology to analyze the stars' atmospheres and detect signs of life.
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Researchers discovered two new exoplanets using AI-powered image recognition, which can predict the effect of interactions between planets on a star's luminosity. This technique improves detection rates for terrestrial-type planets and provides insights into their mass, density, and composition.
SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateNov 11, 2021
Exoplanets HD3167b and two mini-Neptunes orbit in planes perpendicular to each other, with the innermost planet still in the equatorial plane. The discovery suggests an unknown celestial body responsible for this disorder is likely at play.
SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateOct 27, 2021
The Perseverance rover's first scientific analysis confirms Jezero crater was a calm lake for most of its existence, interrupted by flash floods that carried huge boulders downstream. The findings provide clues to Martian climate evolution and offer opportunities to search for signs of ancient life.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateOct 7, 2021
Researchers identified a potential circumtriple planet in the star system GW Ori, with implications for our understanding of planet formation. The discovery, made using ALMA telescope observations, suggests that planet formation may be more active than previously thought.
SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 1, 2021
Scientists study potential for life around M-dwarf planets with new telescope, finding atmospheres may be dried out due to intense radiation. The James Webb Space Telescope can detect gases in heavy carbon dioxide or oxygen-dominated atmospheres.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 29, 2021
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Researchers from Osaka University and NASA discovered that cold planets exist throughout the Milky Way, even in the Galactic bulge, a region previously thought to be inhospitable to planet formation. The study used gravitational microlensing to determine the distribution of planets across the galaxy.
SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021
A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society found that superflares on red dwarf stars occur at high latitudes, near the star's poles, which means they are not directed towards orbiting exoplanets. This reduces the danger to planetary atmospheres and habitability.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2021
The Hubble Space Telescope has detected sublimated water vapor in Ganymede's atmosphere, suggesting the presence of liquid water beneath its icy surface. This finding is significant in the search for habitable planets beyond Earth and provides valuable insights into the composition and potential habitability of icy worlds.
SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 26, 2021