Two recently published papers zoom in on the mystery source of methane in the Martian atmosphere.
planetary science
To Make a Big Moon, Start with a Small Planet
Why is our Moon so massive compared with Earth, and how might that configuration happen elsewhere?
Planetary Dunes Tell of Otherworldly Winds
On Earth and throughout our solar system, ripples and dunes in sand and dust offer insights into how winds blow, liquid currents flow, and solid particles fly and bounce over the terrain.
A Better Look at the Moon’s Middle Mantle
A new analysis strategy sheds new light on the electrical conductivity of the lunar mantle between 300 and 900 km depth.
Shining a Spotlight on the Chicxulub Impact Crater
A new seismic survey of the Chicxulub impact crater reveals the structure of its peak ring and the sediments that cover it.
On Thin Ice: Tiger Stripes on Enceladus
Saturn’s moon Enceladus boasts fierce tiger stripes around its south pole, a mystery that has long puzzled scientists. New research explores the stripes by examining how the moon’s ice breaks.
Two Moons and a Magnetosphere
Decades of research have illuminated how Io and Europa shape—and are shaped by—Jupiter’s giant magnetosphere.
The Stuff That Psyche Is Made Of
The metallic asteroid Psyche appears to contain more rock than previously thought, shedding new light on possible scenarios for its formation in the early solar system.
Planetary Science Up, Earth Science Down in Proposed NASA Budget
The agency’s acting administrator says that the fiscal year 2018 White House budget request tells NASA to stay the course.