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This Laser Could Find Fossil Microbes on Mars
According to Darwin, life on Earth may have first appeared in warm little ponds. This simple idea is also a cornerstone in our search for the origin of life. The ponds were rich in important chemicals, and when lightning struck, somehow, it all got going. If the idea is correct, the same thing may have …
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Can We Develop a More Accurate Habitable Zone Using Sulfur?
The habitable zone is where planets could have liquid water on their surfaces, but not if they're actually habitable. In a new paper, astronomers propose a new way to map the inner edge of habitable zones by searching for sulfur dioxide (SO?) in the atmospheres of exoplanets. If there's SO?, this indicates that the planet doesn't have liquid water on its surface. Telescopes like Webb could scan planets for SO?, creating a more accurate map of habitable zones.
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A Hybrid Hydrogen Drive Train Could Eliminate Aircraft Emissions
Air travel produces around 2.5% of all global CO2 emissions, and despite decades of effort in developing alternative fuels or more efficient aircraft designs, that number hasn’t budged much. However, NASA, also the US’s Aeronautics administration, has kept plugging away at trying to build a more sustainable future for air travel. Recently, they supported another …
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China’s Tianwen-2 Is About to Launch. Here’s What We Know About Its Target Kamo’oalewa
Researchers study enigmatic asteroid Kamo’oalewa, as China’s first asteroid sample return mission moves toward launch. China is about to get in to the asteroid sample return game. The CNSA (China National Space Administration) has recently announced that its Tianwen-2 mission has arrived at the Xichang Space Center. The mission will launch this May, on a …
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One of the Most Massive Black Holes in the Universe Lurks at the Center of the Cosmic Horsehoe
In 2007, astronomers discovered the Cosmic Horseshoe, a gravitationally lensed system of galaxies about five-and-a-half billion light-years away. The foreground galaxy’s mass magnifies and distorts the image of a distant background galaxy whose light has travelled for billions of years before reaching us. The foreground and background galaxies are in such perfect alignment that they …
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Although it Lacks a Magnetic Field, Venus Can Still Protect With in its Atmosphere
Venus differs from Earth in many ways including a lack of internal dynamo driving global magnetosphere to shield potential life from solar and cosmic radiation. However, Venus possesses a dense atmosphere and, in a recent study, planetary scientists conducted simulations of the Venusian atmosphere to determine radiation penetration to the lower cloud layers. Their calculations …
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We Know How Much Radiation Astronauts Will Receive, But We Don’t Know How to Prevent it
The journey to Mars will subject astronauts to extended periods of exposure to radiation during their months-long travel through space. While NASA’s Artemis 1 mission lasted only a matter of weeks, it provided valuable radiation exposure data that scientists can use to predict the radiation risks for future Mars crews. The measurements not only validated …
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Glaciers Worldwide are Melting Faster Causing Sea Levels to Rise More
Anthropogenic climate change is creating a vicious circle where rising temperatures are causing glaciers to melt at an increasing rate. In addition to contributing to rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and extreme weather, the loss of polar ice and glaciers is causing Earth’s oceans to absorb more solar radiation. The loss of glaciers is also …
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A Chinese Satellite Tests Orbital Refuelling
Satellites often face a disappointing end: despite having fully working systems, they are often de-orbited after their propellant runs out. However, a breakthrough is on the cards with the launch of China’s Shijian-25 satellite which has been launched into orbit to test orbital refuelling operations. The plan; docking with satellite Beidou-3 G7 and transferring 142 …
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New Study Proposes that Cosmic Radiation Altered Virus Evolution in Africa
Astronomers have known for some time that nearby supernovae have had a profound effect on Earth’s evolution. For starters, Earth’s deposits of gold, platinum, and other heavy metals are believed to have been distributed to Earth by ancient supernovae. The blasts of gamma rays released in the process can also significantly affect life, depleting nitrogen …
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