Space Exploration News – Latest Headlines

Earth's atmosphere may be source of some lunar water

Hydrogen and oxygen ions escaping from Earth's upper atmosphere and combining on the moon could be one of the sources of the known lunar water and ice.

April 28, 2022 Read more

The instability at the beginning of the solar system

Scientists have unveiled a new theory that could help solve a galactic mystery of how our solar system evolved. Specifically, how did the gas giants - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - end up where they are, orbiting the sun like they do?

April 28, 2022 Read more

More evidence that the building blocks of life on Earth came from meteorites

There is more evidence that the building blocks of life on Earth came from meteorites, according to researchers, who analysed three carbon-rich meteorites and found evidence of multiple compounds needed for DNA or RNA. Using state-of-the-art analytical techniques on the meteorites, they found guanine, adenine, uracil, cytosine, and thymine molecules which may have served as building blocks of life on Earth.

April 26, 2022 Read more

Classifying exoplanet atmospheres opens new field of study

An international team of researchers examined data for 25 exoplanets and found some links among the properties of the atmospheres, including the thermal profiles and chemical abundances in them. This marks the first time exoplanet atmospheres have been studied as populations, rather than individually.

April 26, 2022 Read more

A roadmap for deepening understanding of a puzzling universal process

A puzzling process called magnetic reconnection triggers explosive phenomena throughout the universe, creating solar flares and space storms that can take down mobile phone service and electrical power grids. Now scientists have detailed a roadmap for untangling a key aspect of this puzzle that could deepen insight into the workings of the cosmos.

April 22, 2022 Read more

Pushing the boundaries of space exploration with X-ray polarimetry

Researchers introduce an imaging X-ray polarimetry mission that enables new measurements of cosmic X-ray sources.

April 22, 2022 Read more

Using bacteria to build settlements on Mars

Researchers have developed a sustainable method for making bricks out of Martian soil.

April 20, 2022 Read more

Explanation for formation of abundant features on Europa bodes well for search for extraterrestrial life (w/video)

Ice-penetrating radar data from Greenland suggests that shallow water pockets may be common within Europa's ice shell, increasing the potential habitability of the Jovian moon's ice shell.

April 20, 2022 Read more

Astronomers discover new type of stellar explosion called micronovae (w/video)

Astronomers have discovered a new kind of stellar explosion that could be commonplace in the universe and may change our understanding of how eruptions in stars occur.

April 20, 2022 Read more

Why Venus rotates, slowly, despite sun's powerful grip

If not for the soupy, fast-moving atmosphere on Venus would likely not rotate. Instead, Venus would be locked in place, always facing the sun the way the same side of the moon always faces Earth.

April 20, 2022 Read more

Mars may have less water than previously estimated

Scientists have developed an improved model for planet-wide groundwater flow prediction on Mars that is not only more accurate but more elegant too.

April 20, 2022 Read more

Jupiter's moon Io has splendid dunes

Study shows new way dunes can form on varied celestial surfaces.

April 19, 2022 Read more

Giant stars undergo dramatic weight loss program

Astronomers have found a slimmer type of red giant star for the first time. These stars have undergone dramatic weight loss, possibly due to a greedy companion. The discovery is an important step forward to understanding the life of stars in the Milky Way.

April 14, 2022 Read more

MAGIC telescopes observe nova explosion shining brightly in gamma rays at extremely high energy

The MAGIC telescopes have observed the nova RS Ophiuchi shining brightly in gamma rays at extremely high energy. The Gamma rays emanate from protons that are accelerated to very high energies in the shock front following the explosion. This suggests that novae are also a source of the ubiquitous cosmic radiation in the universe which consists mainly of protons rich in energy, which race through space at almost the speed of light.

April 14, 2022 Read more

Hubble sheds light on origins of supermassive black holes

Astronomers have identified a rapidly growing black hole in the early universe that is considered a crucial 'missing link' between young star-forming galaxies and the first supermassive black holes.

April 13, 2022 Read more

Hubble confirms largest comet nucleus ever seen

The nucleus is about 50 times larger than found at the heart of most known comets. Its mass is estimated to be a staggering 500 trillion tons, a hundred thousand times greater than the mass of a typical comet found much closer to the Sun.

April 12, 2022 Read more

Astronomers capture surprising changes in Neptune's temperatures

An international team of astronomers have used ground-based telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, to track Neptune's atmospheric temperatures over a 17-year period. They found a surprising drop in Neptune's global temperatures followed by a dramatic warming at its south pole.

April 11, 2022 Read more

Differences between the Moon's near and far sides linked to colossal ancient impact

New research shows how the impact that created the Moon's South Pole - Aitken basin is linked to the stark contrast in composition and appearance between the two sides of the Moon.

April 8, 2022 Read more