The rocks studied by the Curiosity rover in an ancient, long-dried lakebed on Mars have provided valuable insights into the conditions that may have been conducive to life billions of years ago. Among the surprising discoveries in the Gale Crater are significant amounts of manganese oxide. This mineral is commonly found in Earth’s lakes due
Space
Meteor showers, often referred to as shooting stars, are a common occurrence that can be observed throughout the year. These meteor showers are the result of Earth passing through streams of dust and debris left behind by comets and asteroids as it orbits the Sun. One such debris stream that Earth currently encounters is from
The recent mid- and near-infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have provided a fresh perspective on one of the most iconic structures in Earth’s sky – the Horsehead Nebula. By utilizing 23 filters, a team of astronomers has captured never-before-seen features in this dense cloud located approximately 1,300 light-years away from our planet.
The ongoing hunt for the mysterious Planet Nine has taken an exciting turn, with new research presenting the “strongest statistical evidence yet” of its existence. The research, conducted by renowned astronomer Konstantin Bogytin from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), sheds light on the potential presence of a ninth planet lurking in the outer reaches
In the vast expanse of space, solar sails have emerged as a promising technology for propelling spacecraft. Drawing inspiration from the sail ships of the past, solar sails utilize the power of sunlight to navigate through the cosmos. The concept of solar sailing dates back centuries, with Johannes Kepler proposing the idea of using sunlight
The Hubble Space Telescope, a space observatory that has been in operation for over three decades, continues to provide groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy. Recently, an international team of citizen scientists, in collaboration with astronomers from the European Space Agency (ESA) and utilizing machine learning algorithms, identified a new sample of over one
The Lyrid meteor shower is currently dazzling spectators with its annual celestial show. From April 15 to April 29, the sky is lit up with dozens of shooting stars as part of this beautiful phenomenon. The peak of the meteor shower was on Sunday night to Monday morning, but its display will continue for the
Recently, NASA announced that its Voyager 1 probe, the most distant man-made object in the Universe, had stopped transmitting usable data back to Earth in November 2023. However, after months of spouting gibberish, the spacecraft is now once again returning valuable information to ground control. This breakthrough was made possible after a team at NASA’s
Recent research conducted by a team led by astronomer Arthur Briaud of the French National Centre for Scientific Research has brought forth interesting revelations about the Moon’s inner core composition. Contrary to the age-old belief that the Moon is made of green cheese, the study found that the inner core of the Moon is actually
Jupiter’s moon Io is a world unlike any other in our Solar System. With an incredible amount of volcanic activity, it boasts more volcanoes than any other celestial body of its size. This unique moon, just slightly larger than our own Moon, is a testament to the wild and untamed landscapes that exist beyond Earth.
In the pursuit of discovering extraterrestrial life forms, scientists acknowledge the probability of encountering worlds vastly different from Earth’s lush, plant-centric ecosystem. While the specifics remain uncertain, our own planet harbors organisms capable of thriving in extreme environments, offering valuable insights for exploring alternative forms of life. Considerations for an alien equivalent of plant life
Planetary atmospheres, including Earth’s own, are not impermeable and suffer from leakage into the vacuum of space, leading to a loss of atmospheric material. Earth, for instance, loses about 90 tonnes of atmospheric material daily. This phenomenon provides valuable insights into the evolution of other planets, such as Venus. Once believed to resemble Earth with
Pluto, the dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system, has long been a subject of fascination for astronomers. The most prominent feature on Pluto is its heart-shaped region, known as Tombaugh Regio. This bright valentine-shaped area has puzzled researchers for years, but a new study published in Nature Astronomy claims to have unveiled
When NASA initially sent the Perseverance rover to Mars to collect samples, it seemed like a promising mission. The rover landed in Jezero Crater, an ancient lake site where scientists believed they could find evidence of Martian microbial life. The goal was to collect samples of rock and sediment to bring back to Earth for
NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has faced numerous challenges and setbacks since its inception. The deployment of the Perseverance rover in February 2021 marked a significant milestone in the mission, as the rover was tasked with collecting samples of Martian rock to be returned to Earth. However, an independent review last year highlighted the program’s