Science Archives - Page 10 of 57

Thirty Comets Spotted Orbiting Alien Star

May 2, 2022 | Asteroids, Astrobiology, Comets, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, JWST, Moon, Our Solar System, Review, Rockets, Space China

Using data from TESS, a new paper presents evidence for the discovery of thirty potential comets orbiting in the Beta Pictoris system. Plus, astrobiology research, water on the Moon, solar system formation, and a review of “The Adam Project” starring Ryan Reynolds.

Martian Volcanoes Once Chose Violence

Apr 29, 2022 | Daily Space, Earth, Galaxies, Mars, Perseverance, Science, Sky Watching, Supernovae

An analysis of images taken by the Spirit rover of olivine-rich rocks in Gusev crater has revealed a much more violent volcanic origin than originally thought and one that likely occurred early in Mars’s history. Plus, balloon science, more Mars, more volcanoes, pretty Hubble images, and What’s Up (a supernova!).

Stellar Death Just Got More Lit

Apr 28, 2022 | Crewed Space, Curiosity, Daily Space, Exoplanets, Jupiter, KBOs, Mars, Moon, Random Space Fact, Rockets, Space History, Spacecraft, SpaceX, Stars, Supernovae

Remember that new object, COW, named for a strange supernova? We’ve seen four more of these Fast Blue Optical Transits, and new research may even have figured out just how and why they occur. Plus, Crew-4 launches, a bunch of planetary science news, micronovae, and this week in rocket history, we look back at the San Marco program.

New Fossil Data Shows Cascadia’s Dangers

Apr 27, 2022 | Asteroids, Astrobiology, Climate Change, Crewed Space, Daily Space, Earth, Guest Interview, Lucy, Mars, OSIRIS-REx, Rockets, Space China, Spacecraft, SpaceX, Starlink

An analysis of sediment core samples taken at the Salmon River Estuary in Oregon provides evidence that the massive 1700 Cascadia earthquake caused 15 meters of slip along the shoreline, which lead to over a meter of coastal subsidence. Plus, all the rocket launches, a few mission updates, making Mars bricks with urea, and an interview with Maggie Thompson from UC Santa Cruz about using methane as a biosignature.

Seafloor Spreading Slowing Globally

Apr 18, 2022 | Book Club, Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Review, Stars, Supernovae

An analysis of the relative movements of 18 tectonic ridges over the past 19 million years finds that the rate of seafloor spreading has dropped by about 40% on average globally. Plus, stars are getting naked, climate change is heating things up, and we review “Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong” by Greg Brennecka.

Early Bacterial Life May Have Formed Far Earlier Than Thought

Apr 15, 2022 | Asteroids, Astrobiology, Comets, Crewed Space, Daily Space, Earth, Galaxies, JWST, Lucy, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Neptune, Saturn, Sky Watching, Stars, Supermassive Black Holes, Venus

An analysis of microscopic features in rocks from the Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt in Quebec, Canada, which date back between 3.75 and 4.28 billion years, finds evidence of possible microbial life. Plus, a supermassive black hole precursor, temperatures on Neptune, check-ins with various spacecraft, and our weekly What’s Up segment.