Paris (AFP) Oct 1, 2024
A rare exoplanet smaller than Earth has been discovered orbiting one of the closest stars to the Sun, although its surface is far too hot to sustain life, astronomers said on Tuesday. The planet orbits Barnard's Star, which is just six light years away, according to observations made over five years by the Very Large Telescope in the Chilean desert. The astronomers were looking for plan

Paris (AFP) Oct 1, 2024
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected carbon dioxide on the frozen surface of Pluto's biggest moon, Charon, for the first time, research revealed on Tuesday. The discovery of CO2, along with another chemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), could shed light on the icy worlds in the mysterious outer reaches of our Solar System. Pluto was long known as the ninth planet fro

This September saw the completion of a critical milestone for the construction of ESA's new deep space communication antenna in New Norcia, Australia: the lifting of the 122-tonne reflector dish.

New research reveals that dust carried by the wind from southern Africa towards Madagascar triggered the largest phytoplankton bloom in two decades – and, unusually, this occurred at a time of year when such blooms are rarely seen.

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Sep 30, 2024
Since 1953, an equation known as at-a-station hydraulic geometry (AHG) has been used to explain the relationship between river width, depth, velocity, and river discharge - the volume of water flowing through a river channel. AHG plays a key role in hydraulic engineering, flood prediction, and navigation. However, traditional methods for studying AHG through field research offer limited sample s

Beijing (AFP) Sept 26, 2024
China said on Thursday that its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean was "legitimate and routine", insisting that its nuclear stance remained defensive after the rare test prompted an outcry from countries in the region. Beijing announced the trial on Wednesday - its first such test in four decades - saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warh

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 30, 2024
Astronomers at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, in collaboration with international researchers, have unveiled findings that suggest our cosmic neighborhood may be significantly larger than previously understood. The Cosmicflows team has been examining the movements of 56,000 galaxies, uncovering a possible expansion in the scale of our galactic basin of attraction. A deca

Paris, France (SPX) Sep 30, 2024
A group of international scientists has made significant strides in understanding the large-scale structure of the Universe by identifying critical gravitational regions, termed "basins of attraction." This research was spearheaded by Dr. Valade as part of his doctoral studies, under the guidance of Prof. Yehuda Hoffman from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Prof. Noam Libeskind from AIP Po

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Sep 30, 2024
A significant study published in 'Engineering' has revealed new insights into the behavior of lunar regolith particles when exposed to an external electric field. This discovery has potential implications for space exploration and the utilization of lunar resources. Conducted by a team of scientists from the Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, Tsinghua University, and other collaborating