Planetary science – Page 2
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ResearchIngredient for life detected in icy plume from Saturn’s moon Enceladus
First discovery of phosphorus in an ocean beyond Earth reveals that the bio-essential element may be abundant on the moon
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ResearchLife might be able to prosper in sulfuric acid clouds of Venus
Nucleic acid bases found to be stable in conditions found in the planet’s atmosphere
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OpinionReturning to the moon
It’s been a while, but space agencies are starting to plan their trips back to our satellite, with the goal of building semi-permanent bases
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FeatureThe race to build a base on the moon
Nina Notman talks to scientists helping to return humans to the moon – for good this time
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ResearchSaturn’s rings found to be a youthful, recent addition to the planet
Nasa’s Cassini probe reveals dust and ice around the planet is only a few hundred million years old
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ResearchMoon still holds surprises as vast amounts of water found in glass beads in lunar soil
Lunar water formed by the solar wind could one day aid exploration of the moon
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WebinarUranus: exploring the ice-cold chemistry of the ‘frozen frontier’
Find out why scientists are planning a new space mission to explore the planetary ice giant Uranus
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FeatureMission to Uranus
With no spacecraft visiting the ice giants for over 30 years, Anthony King speaks to the planetary scientists planning a return visit
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NewsEuropean Space Agency unveils plans to get troubled rover to Mars
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended European cooperation on launch of Rosalind Franklin rover
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ResearchMars’ water came from outer space
Asteroids from the outer solar system would have delivered enough water to cover the red planet in a 300m-deep ocean
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ResearchPerseverance rover reveals rocks on Mars were repeatedly exposed to liquid water
Suite of analytical tools provides new insight into red planet’s geochemistry
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OpinionJames Lovelock, a gentleman scientist
Philip Ball reflects on the legacy of the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, who has died aged 103
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OpinionFarsighted science
The Webb telescope looks set to deliver on its promise to change the way we see the universe
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ResearchLunar soil shows promise as a catalyst for extraterrestrial photosynthesis
Moon rock could one day be used to accelerate water splitting and carbon dioxide conversion in space to support crewed missions
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ResearchDimethyl ether found in a planet-forming disc for the first time
Discovery of dimethyl ether, nitric oxide and other small molecules offers insight into early chemical evolution on planets
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NewsEurope’s Mars rover faces launch delays due to sanctions on Russia
Mars probe is ‘very unlikely’ to launch in 2022 due to deteriorating relationship between Europe and Russia after invasion of Ukraine
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ResearchFreefall flights test feasibility of making oxygen on the moon and Mars
Efficiency of water electrolysis is reduced at lower gravity
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FeatureDrilling deep to discover the secrets of the mantle
Nina Notman hears from the scientists trying to pierce the Earth’s crust below the seafloor to learn more about our home planet
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ResearchAncient Mars meteorites’ organic chemistry cracked – and it’s not alien microbes
Study uncovers geochemical processes that formed organic compounds millions of years ago, at a time when the red planet still had liquid water
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ResearchMysterious nitrogen ice patterns on Pluto linked to sublimation
Scientists use modelling to show that sublimation of nitrogen ice fuels convection in Pluto’s Sputnik Planitia impact crater by cooling its surface