Julie McEnery, “Roman Telescope Begins Quest to Reveal Evolving UniverSE”
SPACE & PLANETS ARCHIVE
Was the Moon-Forming Impact Squishy or Crunchy?
A new computer simulation adds a crust to the Earth-smashing planet Theia, showing how a proto-Moon could form from the leftovers.
Where Did Formaldehyde Rain Down on Mars? Almost Everywhere.
More formaldehyde rained down in places that were already wet and favorable for prebiotic chemistry.
InSight into Seismology on the Red Planet
Viking 2 detected two possible marsquakes in 1976. New analysis links one to the same region where InSight recorded nearly 1,000 marsquakes decades later.
White Dwarf Spotted Devouring the Planet It Birthed
Exotic chemical elements in the atmosphere of a dead star hint at the presence of a planet that formed after the star’s death—the first such second-generation planet ever seen.
Auroral Structure Could Be Caused by Bouncing Electrons
High-resolution optical observations of aurorae show fluctuations and structuring that could be explained by interactions between electrons and a plasma phenomenon called Alfvén waves.
What We Could Lose by Trying to Make Mars Habitable
The rock, ice, and atmosphere of Mars hold a largely unread archive. Terraforming could erase it before the biggest scientific questions are answered.
NASA has Underspent on Research and Analysis for 15 Years
Spending for NASA’s research and analysis programs has remained relatively flat for 15 years, ignoring recommendations from community-led decadal surveys and directives by Congress.
Chariklo’s Rings Are Evolving
One ring became more opaque, and the other became more translucent. Astronomers don’t know why.
Presumed Role of Chorus Waves Out of Tune with New Data
Distinctive plasma ripples are thought to play a big role in electron loss from Earth’s radiation belts, but a new study suggests a more limited influence.
Of Cosmic Rains and Delayed Trains
Scientific detective work corrected the date of an early disruption in telegraph service, solidifying the links between solar weather and technological disturbances.
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