Planetary Science

  1. Glassy debris creates the bluish tinge and radiating black stripes around an impact crater on Mars
    Planetary Science

    Asteroid impacts might have created some of Mars’ sand

    Roughly a quarter of the Red Planet’s sand is spherical bits of glass forged in violent impacts, new observations reveal.

    By Katherine Kornei
  2. photo of an inflated balloon in a field before launch in the Seychelles
    Space

    How balloons could one day detect quakes on Venus

    A new study opens the door for future balloon-based missions to study the geology of other worlds.

    By Freda Kreier
  3. illustration of different mars rovers on the martian surface
    Space

    How Mars rovers have evolved in 25 years of exploring the Red Planet

    Over 25 years, remotely controlled rovers have uncovered Mars’ watery history and continue to search for evidence that life once existed there.

    By Alexandra Witze
  4. a black container of dark faux asteroid soil and peat moss, held by a man wearing a gray shirt and jeans. There is a tiny chili pepper seedling poking through the dirt
    Planetary Science

    Astronauts might be able to use asteroid soil to grow crops

    Researchers grew romaine lettuce, chili pepper and pink radish plants in mixtures of faux asteroid soil and peat moss.

    By Liz Kruesi
  5. night sky photo of a double aurora (in green and red)
    Space

    Amateur astronomers’ images of a rare double aurora may unlock its secrets

    With breathtaking videos, citizen scientists have shown researchers a new pattern of auroras that may solve the mystery behind a strange red glow.

    By Asa Stahl
  6. yellowish white calcite crystal that formed in a cave
    Planetary Science

    A new look at the ‘mineral kingdom’ may transform how we search for life

    A new census of Earth’s crystal past hints that life may have begun earlier than expected, and could be a tool to look for water and life elsewhere.

    By Asa Stahl
  7. an illustratiion of a molten Earth's core
    Earth

    50 years ago, a new theory of Earth’s core began solidifying

    In 1972, scientists proposed that Earth’s core formed as the planet came together. Fifty years later, that theory is generally accepted, though many mysteries about the core remain.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  8. Oval-shaped dark blue map of the Milky Way with color patterns representing concentrations of galaxy mergers, supernovas and newborn stars.
    Astronomy

    New Gaia data paint the most detailed picture yet of the Milky Way

    Gaia’s new data can tell us about galaxies the Milky Way has swallowed, the young solar system and asteroids that could hit Earth.

    By Asa Stahl
  9. 31 milligrams of dark gray dust and debris from asteroid Ryugu in a white circular sample dish
    Planetary Science

    Samples of the asteroid Ryugu are scientists’ purest pieces of the solar system

    Samples Hayabusa2 brought to Earth from asteroid Ryugu are far fresher than similar types of meteorites that scientists have found.

    By Liz Kruesi
  10. Schrödinger crater on the moon
    Planetary Science

    Ice at the moon’s poles might have come from ancient volcanoes

    Volcanic eruptions billions of years ago probably released enough water vapor to have deposited ice at the lunar poles, a study finds.

    By Anna Gibbs
  11. a row of vials, three filled with moon dirt, including one with a thale cress seedling
    Plants

    These are the first plants grown in moon dirt

    The first attempt to grow plants in Apollo samples from the moon shows the promise and potential struggles of farming in lunar soil.

    By Maria Temming
  12. An artist’s rendition of the lander on the surface of Mars.
    Planetary Science

    NASA’s InSight lander has recorded the largest Marsquake yet

    The magnitude 5 temblor, detected May 4, will help scientists learn more about the Red Planet’s interior.

    By Katherine Kornei