Orbital wobbling shaped the dome of ice and dust at the planet's north pole.
unsolved mysteries
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The Curious Case of Titan’s Missing Clouds
Two instruments, one region on Titan: One instrument saw clouds, the other didn't—what's going on?
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Freezing Mars's Core—in the Lab
Mars's core, widely thought to be at least partially molten, may eventually solidify completely, and researchers have turned to lab experiments to find out how.
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Using Isotope Fingerprints to Solve a Methane Mystery
Atmospheric methane levels are rising, and isotopic ratios within the greenhouse gas suggest that the tropics may be to blame.
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Scientists Offer New Explanation for Island's Unexpected Uplift
Researchers developed a new timeline for the rise, fall, and rise again of a puzzling island in the Azores.
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Eliminating Uncertainty One Cloud at a Time
The impact of clouds on climate change has been a scientific mystery for decades. Now researchers are fighting to gain the upper hand.
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No Evidence for Unknown Source of Ozone Precursor
A study suggests that known combustion and photochemical sources of nitrous acid, a precursor to ground-level ozone, are enough to explain levels seen in the atmosphere.
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Jupiter's Auroras Recharge Between Solar Storms
New research suggests that Jupiter's magnetic field replenishes its stock of plasma during lulls in solar activity, creating spectacular displays when a solar storm hits.
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Scientists Solve Charon's Red Mystery
Why are Charon's poles dusted with reddish material?
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A Flip-Flopping Climate Could Explain Mars's Watery Past
A new hypothesis might reconcile two opposing theories that have tried to explain Mars's mysterious history for more than 40 years.