Space
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Planetary Science
Two-stage process formed moon, simulations suggest
Certain elements absent from lunar samples but present on Earth might be hidden deep inside the moon, a relic from how it was put together.
- Planetary Science
Mighty winds fuel megastorms on Titan
Saturn’s moon Titan might produce long-lasting storms squalls that flood the surface with liquid methane.
- Earth
Earth’s water originated close to home, lava analysis suggests
Scarcity of a hydrogen isotope called deuterium in molten rock from Earth’s depths suggests that the planet’s H2O originated from water-logged dust during formation, not comets.
- Astronomy
Cosmic rays maintain their mystery
Cosmic rays come from all over the universe, including some places we’re not so sure about.
- Astronomy
Early stars found swirling in the Milky Way center
Ancient stars with low iron abundance surround the Milky Way’s center.
- Astronomy
Chile telescope array spots nearby Earth-sized planet
The discovery of GJ 1132b, the nearest Earth-sized planet known beyond the solar system, could herald the era of probing the atmospheres of nearby worlds for signs of life.
- Planetary Science
Phobos starting to crack under pressure
Grooves that wrap around Phobos show that the Martian moon is starting to crack from stress.
- Planetary Science
Impact from a space rock may have helped shape Pluto’s heart
Pluto’s heart is deep basin, possibly caused by a run in with something else in the Kuiper belt.
- Planetary Science
Impact from a space rock might have formed Pluto’s heart
Pluto’s heart is deep basin, possibly caused by a run in with something else in the Kuiper belt.
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- Planetary Science
Pluto continues to deliver surprises
Ice volcanoes, young landscapes and twirling moons are just a few more surprises from Pluto.
- Planetary Science
MAVEN mission finding clues to Mars’ climate change
Intense solar storms in the past might have stripped Mars of its water as well as much of the rest of its atmosphere.
