Early analysis of the asteroid Bennu sample returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed dust rich in carbon, nitrogen and organic compounds, all of which are essential components for life as we know it. The sample is dominated by clay minerals, particularly serpentine, and reflects the type of rocks found on Earth at mid-ocean ridges. … Read more
Researchers have shown through high-energy laser experiments that magnesium oxide is likely the first mineral to solidify in the formation of a super-Earth, which has a crucial influence on the geophysical evolution of these planets. A new study finds that magnesium oxide, a key mineral in planet formation, may be the first to solidify in … Read more
This image shows Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano not only on Mars but in the entire solar system. … [+] The volcano has a diameter of about 600 kilometers. The image was captured in the early morning (07:20 local solar time, LST) by the high-resolution stereo camera on board ESA’s Mars Express, and included as … Read more
A recent solar eruption sent a powerful blast of charged particles and radiation toward Mars, giving scientists a rare glimpse of how these events unfold on planets other than Earth. Sonos’ very first headphones are too expensive for what they offer NASA’s Curiosity rover captured the aftermath of a solar storm on the surface of … Read more
Nearly twenty years ago, astronomers observed a huge cloud of fine dust particles around a young star just 63 light-years away from Earth. From recent observations of the Webb Space TelescopeHowever, the dust cloud had mysteriously disappeared. Now a new paper suggests that the dust cloud may have been caused by a violent event that … Read more
STEVE, a strange ribbon of purple and green haze discovered by citizen scientists in 2016, just got weirder. While sifting through archival data, a team of scientists discovered that the aurora-like phenomenon has a secret twin that moves in the opposite direction. Evil’s Michael Emerson on working opposite a giant, hairy demon with five eyes … Read more