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A new approach to forecasting solar flares?

Using 3D numerical models, an international team has discovered a proxy that could be used to forecast an eruptive event. The proxy is associated with magnetic helicity, which reflects the extent of twist and entanglement of the magnetic field.

May 22nd, 2017

Hubble spots moon around third largest dwarf planet

The combined power of three space observatories, including NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, has helped astronomers uncover a moon orbiting the third largest dwarf planet, catalogued as 2007 OR10. The pair resides in the frigid outskirts of our solar system called the Kuiper Belt, a realm of icy debris left over from our solar system's formation 4.6 billion years ago.

May 20th, 2017

Experts explain origins of topographic relief on Earth, Mars and Titan

The surfaces of Earth, Mars, and Titan, Saturn's largest moon, have all been scoured by rivers. Yet despite this similarity and the amazingly Earth-like landscapes of Titan complete with valleys, lakes, and mountains, researchers report new evidence that the origins of the topography there and on Mars are different from on Earth.

May 20th, 2017

New 'styrofoam' planet provides tools in search for habitable planets

Highly inflated gas giant orbits bright southern star.

May 16th, 2017

Researcher identifies key differences in solar wind models

New research has found that when choosing the right model to describe the solar wind, using the one that takes longer to calculate does not make it the most accurate.

May 15th, 2017

Research increases distance at which supernova would spark mass extinctions on Earth

Researchers conducted an examination of the effects of a supernova that occured 2.6 million years ago on Earth's biology.

May 11th, 2017

Space radiation reproduced in the lab for better, safer missions

Laser plasma-based accelerator, used to mimic the types of space radiation which present a threat to astronauts and space technology - allowing realistic testing on earth.

May 8th, 2017

Chemical engineer explains oxygen mystery on comets

A chemical engineer who normally develops new ways to fabricate microprocessors in computers has figured out how to explain a nagging mystery in space - why comets expel oxygen gas, the same gas we humans breathe.

May 8th, 2017

Origin of Milky Way's hypothetical dark matter signal may not be so dark

Galaxy's excessive gamma-ray glow likely comes from pulsars, the remains of collapsed ancient stars.

May 3rd, 2017

Ripples in the cosmic web

A team of astronomers has made the first measurements of small-scale ripples in primeval hydrogen gas using rare double quasars.

Apr 27th, 2017

Engineers investigate a simple, no-bake recipe to make bricks from Martian soil

Explorers planning to settle on Mars might be able to turn the planet's red soil into bricks without needing to use an oven or additional ingredients. Instead, they would just need to apply pressure to compact the soil - the equivalent of a blow from a hammer.

Apr 27th, 2017

Scientists propose mechanism to describe solar eruptions of all sizes (w/video)

Scientists propose that a universal mechanism can explain the whole spectrum of solar eruptions. They used 3-D computer simulations to demonstrate that a variety of eruptions can theoretically be thought of as the same kind of event, only in different sizes and manifested in different ways.

Apr 26th, 2017

'Ageless' silicon throughout Milky Way may indicate a well-mixed galaxy

New surveys of the Milky Way found no aging trend for the element silicon, a fundamental building block of rocks throughout our solar system. This 'ageless' appearance may mean that the Milky Way is more efficient at mixing its contents than previously thought, thereby masking the telltale signs of chemical aging.

Apr 26th, 2017

Cassini, Voyager missions suggest new picture of Sun's interaction with galaxy

New data from NASA's Cassini mission, combined with measurements from the two Voyager spacecraft and the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, suggests that our sun and planets are surrounded by a giant, rounded system of magnetic field from the sun - calling into question the alternate view of the solar magnetic fields trailing behind the sun in the shape of a long comet tail.