Space: The Solar System
Published

To watch a comet form, a spacecraft could tag along for a journey toward the sun      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new article proposes that space probes could hitch a ride with 'centaurs' as they become comets. Along the way, the spacecraft would gather data that would otherwise be impossible to record -- including how comets, Earth-like planets, and even the solar system formed.

Space: The Solar System
Published

A 5-sigma standard model anomaly is possible      (via sciencedaily.com) 

One of the best chances for proving beyond-the-standard-model physics relies on something called the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. The standard model insists that the CKM matrix, which describes the mixing of quarks, should be unitary. But growing evidence suggests that during certain forms of radioactive decay, the unitarity of the CKM matrix might break.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Radio signals from distant stars suggest hidden planets      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Using the world's most powerful radio antenna, scientists have discovered stars unexpectedly blasting out radio waves, possibly indicating the existence of hidden planets.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Chang'e-5 samples reveal key age of moon rocks      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A lunar probe launched by the Chinese space agency recently brought back the first fresh samples of rock and debris from the moon in more than 40 years. Now an international team of scientists has determined the age of these moon rocks at close to 1.97 billion years old.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Scientists confirm decrease in Pluto’s atmospheric density      (via sciencedaily.com) 

When Pluto passed in front of a star on the night of August 15, 2018, astronomers deployed telescopes at numerous sites in the U.S. and Mexico to observe Pluto's atmosphere as it was briefly backlit by the well-placed star. Scientists used this occultation event to measure the overall abundance of Pluto's tenuous atmosphere and found compelling evidence that it is beginning to disappear, refreezing back onto its surface as it moves farther away from the Sun.

Space: The Solar System
Published

‘Planet confusion’ could slow Earth-like exoplanet exploration      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study finds that next-generation telescopes used to see exoplanets could confuse Earth-like planets with other types of planets in the same solar system.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Earth and Venus grew up as rambunctious planets      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Using machine learning and simulations of giant impacts, researchers found that the planets residing in the inner solar system were likely born from repeated hit-and-run collisions, challenging conventional models of planet formation.

Space: The Solar System
Published

This is what it looks like when a black hole snacks on a star      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Analyzing observations of an X-ray flare and fitting the data with theoretical models, astronomers documented a fatal encounter between an unlucky star and a black hole.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Peering into the Moon's shadows with AI      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Permanently shadowed lunar craters contain water ice, but are difficult to image. A machine learning algorithm now provides sharper images.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Shining a light on Moon’s oldest geologic imprints      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research has found the Moon may have been subjected to much greater impacts from asteroids and other bodies than previously thought, building on our understanding of the Moon's earliest geologic evolution.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Researchers enlist robot swarms to mine lunar resources      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Building a base on the moon was once something out of science fiction, but now scientists are starting to consider it more seriously. Researchers are investigating methods for mining lunar resources to build such a base, using swarms of autonomous robots.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Risk from solar flares to planes is real but not worth costly mitigation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Aviation guidelines aim to mitigate the effects of radiation, mainly caused by galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles, or SEP. The fluxes in the former are stable and predictable: dose rates are no higher than 10 µSv/h at the normal flight altitude of 12 km. But in the case of SEP, does the frequency of detected solar flares justify the costs of countermeasures? Current mitigation procedures instruct planes to lower altitude or change or cancel flight paths altogether, significantly raising expenses.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Will it be safe for humans to fly to Mars?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A human space mission would be viable if it doesn't exceed four years, an international research team concludes in new research.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Here comes the Sun: Planetary scientists find evidence of solar-driven change on the Moon      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study uncovered important clues to help understand the surprisingly active lunar surface. The scientists found that solar radiation could be a more important source of lunar iron nanoparticles than previously thought.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Fast changes between the solar seasons resolved by new sun clock      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Violent activity on our Sun leads to some of the most extreme space weather events on Earth, impacting systems such as satellites, communications systems, power distribution and aviation. The roughly 11 year cycle of solar activity has three 'seasons', each of which affects the space weather felt at Earth differently: (i) solar maximum, the sun is active and disordered, when space weather is stormy and events are irregular (ii) the declining phase, when the sun and solar wind becomes ordered, and space weather is more moderate and (iii) solar minimum, when activity is quiet. Scientists found that the change from solar maximum to the declining phase is fast, happening within a few (27 day) solar rotations.

Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms
Published

Protecting Earth from space storms      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A major space weather event could have a catastrophic impact on Earth, disabling communications and electrical systems. Researchers are using the Frontera supercomputer to develop new geomagnetic forecasting methods and improve the Geospace Model used by NOAA for operational purposes. They hope to increase the lead time for space weather events from 30 minutes to 1-3 days, localize space weather forecasts, and provide uncertainty estimates.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Magnetic patterns hidden in meteorites reveal early Solar System dynamics      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a novel technique to investigate the dynamics of the early Solar System by analyzing magnetites in meteorites utilizing the wave nature of electrons.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Dragonfly mission to Titan announces big science goals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The NASA Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft relocatable lander to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan in the mid-2030s; it will be the first mission to explore the surface of Titan.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Small stars share similar dynamics to our sun, key to planet habitability      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists show that 'cool' stars like the sun share dynamic surface behaviors that influence their energetic and magnetic environments. Stellar magnetic activity is key to whether a given star can host planets that support life.

Space: The Solar System
Published

Lunar samples solve mystery of the moon's supposed magnetic shield      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Tests of glass samples gathered on Apollo missions show magnetization may result from impacts of objects like meteors, not as a result of magnetization from the presence of a magnetic shield.