Space

The atmosphere of a planet is a delicate balance, and without a protective barrier, some of it is bound to escape into space. Earth, for example, loses about 90 tonnes of atmospheric material every day. This phenomenon gives us clues about the evolution of other planets in our solar system. Venus, once thought to be

Pluto, the distant dwarf planet in our solar system, is home to a striking feature known as the “heart,” a bright valentine-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. This unique formation has puzzled scientists for years, and the most likely scenario for its origin involves a dramatic collision with a planetary body over 400 miles wide. A

NASA embarked on an ambitious mission to Mars with the Perseverance rover, aiming to collect samples from the red planet for analysis. The US$2.4 billion mission landed the rover in Jezero Crater, a site believed to be rich in ancient geological formations that could hold clues to the existence of past life on Mars. Perseverance

NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has been under scrutiny due to various issues such as unrealistic budget expectations and an unorganized structure. The future of the mission became even more uncertain after budget cuts and layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In an attempt to address the concerns surrounding the Mars Sample Return mission, NASA

The infamous Hungarian countess Elizabeth Báthory is rumored to have bathed in the blood of young girls to retain her youthful beauty in the 16th century. While the truth behind these gruesome accusations remains uncertain, the pursuit of eternal youth has captivated humanity for centuries. Despite the unsavory nature of Báthory’s alleged practices, new evidence

Spacecraft propulsion has always been a critical aspect of space exploration. Traditional systems often rely on finite resources, such as fuel, to power their missions. However, solar sails offer a groundbreaking alternative. By harnessing the solar wind, these sails can provide propulsion for spacecraft in a way that is both cost-effective and sustainable. While the

In 2009, NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) with the mission to map the lunar surface in detail. The LRO has successfully mapped about 98.2% of the lunar surface, excluding deeply shadowed regions in the polar areas. Recently, the LRO captured images of another satellite, the Republic of Korea’s first lunar orbiter Danuri. The

For months now, Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, has been sending back a repetitive jumble of 1s and 0s that has puzzled scientists. Despite being 24 billion kilometers away, the spacecraft’s signal has been indecipherable until recently. In March, NASA sent a coded command to Voyager 1, prompting its flight data subsystem

In the coming months, a magnificent explosion is predicted to occur approximately 3,000 light years away from Earth. This explosion will take place in a binary star system situated in the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the “northern crown.” Under normal circumstances, this star system is too faint to be visible to the naked

On April 8th, a rare celestial event is set to occur, capturing the attention of astronomy enthusiasts across the US. Not only will there be a total solar eclipse, where the moon will cast a shadow over the sun, but also the long-awaited approach of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, known as the “Mother of Dragons” or the

The White House has recently made an announcement directing NASA to create a unified time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies. This decision comes as governments and private companies are increasingly competing in space exploration. The aim is to set international norms beyond Earth’s orbit, in order to ensure safety and accuracy for

The study of fullerenes, spherical carbon ‘cages’, has led researchers to new insights into the origins of life on Earth and beyond. By combining data from laboratory studies and simulation software, scientists have been able to uncover the potential role of fullerenes in protecting complex compounds in interstellar space. Recent research has confirmed the presence

The astronomical phenomenon of a total solar eclipse is a rare and awe-inspiring event that captures the attention of people across the globe. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur across North America, as the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, creating a momentary darkness akin to dawn or dusk. These events

A microscopic grain of olivine recovered from an ancient meteorite in Antarctica has provided researchers with a glimpse into a distant past. This unique mineral, known as a presolar grain, possesses an isotope composition that suggests it originated from a star that perished long before the birth of our Solar System. Unlike typical materials found

The recent discovery of magnetic fields spiraling around Sagittarius A*, our galaxy’s supermassive black hole, has been made possible through the utilization of twisted light imaging techniques. Scientists have successfully captured and measured the polarization effect in a direct image of Sgr A*, revealing a magnetic field structure remarkably similar to the shadow of the