Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
For the first time, astronomers have successfully detected and analyzed the magnetic field surrounding a young star in a region where planetary formation is believed to be underway. By using dust as a tracer, researchers have mapped out the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field, shedding new light on the processes that shape planetary systems. Planets emerge within swirling clo

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Researchers using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission have identified an enormous exoplanet and a brown dwarf, marking a first in planetary discovery via Gaia's ability to detect stellar wobbles caused by gravitational interactions. These objects, found orbiting low-mass stars, present an unusual scenario that challenges established theories of planetary formation. A new stu

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 10, 2025
The search for life beyond Earth is among the most ambitious scientific quests. One promising method is to locate motile microorganisms, capable of self-propelled movement, which serves as a strong biological indicator. If such movement is driven by a specific chemical, it is referred to as chemotaxis. A team of German researchers has now introduced a new and simplified technique to stimul

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
The SETI Institute has introduced the Davie Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence for Astronomy, inviting researchers to enhance machine learning pipelines for exoplanet detection. The selected fellow will collaborate with Dr. Vishal Gajjar and his research team, along with partners at the SETI Institute and IIT Tirupati in India. This initiative aims to advance supervised con

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has secured a contract with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to design and develop the Emirates Crew and Science Airlock Module for the Lunar Gateway station orbiting the Moon. The signing ceremony, held in Abu Dhabi, included the presence of Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Venturi Astrolab (Astrolab) and Astrobotic have confirmed that the Astrolab FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover will be transported to the Moon aboard Astrobotic's Griffin lander as part of Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1). The rover will be deployed at the Nobile Region near the lunar south pole, with the mission slated for late 2025. Originally designed to carry NASA's VIPER payload und

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Wednesday aboard the International Space Station was marked by significant research efforts focused on space navigation and plasma crystal phenomena. The Expedition 72 crew also continued organizing cargo and tidying up after the recent spacewalk. As humanity prepares for more distant missions beyond Earth's orbit, refining navigation systems remains a priority. NASA Flight Engineer Don Pe

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 10, 2025
One prominent theory regarding the emergence of life on Earth suggests that simple chemical molecules progressively evolved into complex structures, eventually giving rise to protocells-rudimentary, non-living structures that preceded modern cells. A leading candidate for these protocells is polyester microdroplets, which arise through the polymerization of alpha-hydroxy acids (aHAs), compounds

Merced,CA (SPX) Feb 10, 2025
Measurements and data collected from space can be used to better understand life on Earth. An ambitious, multinational research project funded by NASA and co-led by UC Merced civil and environmental engineering Professor Erin Hestir demonstrated that Earth's biodiversity can be monitored and measured from space, leading to a better understanding of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Hesti

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 10, 2025
Space presents significant hazards, particularly exposure to intense radiation. Without adequate shielding, space instruments may fail, and astronauts face serious health risks. Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium are investigating the effectiveness of 3D-printed hydrogels, highly absorbent materials that retain large amounts of water, as a novel approach to radiation shielding. Rad