Planetary Science

More Stories in Planetary Science

  1. Planetary Science

    NASA’s Perseverance rover finds its first possible hint of ancient life on Mars

    The NASA Mars rover examined a rock containing organic compounds and “leopard spots” that, on Earth, are associated with microbial life.

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  2. Space

    A planet needs to start with a lot of water to become like Earth

    Rocky planets around fiery stars could hide their water for later use, but it takes 3 to 8 times the amount in our world’s oceans to end up Earthlike.

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  3. Planetary Science

    Jupiter’s Great Red Spot may be less than 200 years old

    An analysis of images spanning hundreds of years suggests a dark spot spied in the late 1600s and early 1700s is distinct from the Red Spot seen today.

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  4. Planetary Science

    Sulfur was key to the first water on Earth

    Hydrogen bonded with sulfur may have given our world its first water after the hydrogen broke away and joined with oxygen in the planet’s crust.

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  5. Planetary Science

    Venus might be as volcanically active as Earth

    Data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft suggest that volcanic activity is widespread on Venus.

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  6. Earth

    A weaker magnetic field may have paved the way for marine life to go big

    Decreased protection from cosmic radiation may have increased oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans, allowing animals to grow larger.

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  7. Planetary Science

    Pluto’s heart-shaped basin might not hide an ocean after all

    Planetary scientists propose an alternative theory to explain why Sputnik Planitia has stayed put across Pluto’s equator.

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  8. Planetary Science

    Our picture of habitability on Europa, a top contender for hosting life, is changing

    The moon of Jupiter is considered one of the most promising places to look for life, but its subsurface ocean may be less habitable than once thought.

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  9. Planetary Science

    Jupiter’s moon Io may have been volcanically active ever since it was born

    An analysis of the moon’s atmospheric composition suggests that it has been spewing sulfur for roughly 4.6 billion years.

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