Atmospheric Scientist
- All
- News
- Videos
-
James Webb Space Telescope Detects Phosphine on Brown Dwarf Wolf 1130C
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have detected phosphine gas in the atmosphere of the brown dwarf Wolf 1130C, about 54 light-years away. The finding suggests phosphine can form in extreme, non-biological environments, challenging its status as a potential biomarker and reshaping how scientists search for alien life.
-
Rubin Observatory Adopts New AI Algorithm to Enhance Cosmic Imaging
Scientists have developed ImageMM, an algorithm tested on Hawaii’s Subaru Telescope and soon to be used at the Rubin Observatory. The system reduces atmospheric blur, producing sharper images for studying galaxies and dark matter. Researchers believe the technique could make ground-based astronomy nearly as precise as space telescopes
-
Moon Is Rusting: Scientists Stunned By Hematite Discovery On Lunar Surface
Understanding of rusting could impact future lunar missions, resource utilisation and equipment design.
-
Astronomers Reveal Sudden Explosion of Small Asteroid Over France
In February 2023, asteroid 2023 CX1 exploded suddenly over France, stunning scientists. Tracked only hours before impact, the tiny rock disintegrated in a powerful airburst, scattering meteorites across Normandy. The rare event provides crucial insights into asteroid behavior and raises new considerations for future planetary defense strategies.
-
Researchers Develop Method to Predict Rare Green Auroral Events on Mars
In 2024, NASA’s Perseverance rover captured the first green aurora on Mars. Now scientists can forecast these rare events by tracking powerful solar storms. Beyond their glow, auroras signal radiation that could endanger astronauts. This breakthrough forecasting method is crucial for protecting future human explorers on the Red Planet.
-
Diamond 'Super-Earth' May Not Be Quite as Precious as Once Thought, Study Finds
New research challenges the idea that 55 Cancri e, once dubbed a “diamond planet”, is rich in carbon. Re-analysing telescope data, scientists concluded that the host star has a lot more oxygen than originally believed, making the possibility that its planet formed with a carbon-dominant atmosphere less likely.
-
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Spots Megaripples, Proof Mars' Soil Is Still Shifting
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered striking megaripples — giant Martian sand waves — at a site called Kerrlaguna in Jezero Crater. These formations, about a meter tall, are larger than Earth’s beach ripples but smaller than the biggest dunes. Scientists say they formed when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and stronger winds, and many no...
-
Earth to Spin Faster on July 22 to Make It One of the Shortest Days in Recorded History
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Earth will complete its rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the usual 24 hours, scientists say. That will make it the second-shortest day ever recorded, just behind July 10, 2025. The trend of shorter days has accelerated since 2020, attributed to factors like the Moon’s position, mass shifts from melting ice, and at...
-
Algae-Grown Bioplastic Passes Mars Pressure Test, Boosting Hopes for Red Planet Habitats
Scientists have successfully grown algae in bioplastic chambers under Mars-like conditions, marking a step toward sustainable habitats for astronauts. The chambers, made from polylactic acid, supported photosynthesis and stabilized liquid water. This breakthrough suggests self-replicating biomaterials could reduce Earth-based resupply, advancing lo...
-
Magnetic Wave Study Detects Lithium in Mercury’s Exosphere for First Time Ever
For the first time, scientists have detected lithium in Mercury’s exosphere using magnetic wave signatures found in MESSENGER spacecraft data. The findings link lithium’s release to meteoroid impacts that vaporise planetary material, offering fresh insight into volatile element delivery. This breakthrough reshapes our understanding of Mercury...
-
Chandra Spots Distant Baby Planet Losing Its Atmosphere Under Intense X-ray Assault
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a rare glimpse of TOI 1227 b, a young, Jupiter-sized exoplanet losing its atmosphere under intense stellar radiation. Just 8 million years old, the planet is shrinking rapidly as X-rays strip away its mass. Scientists warn it may become a barren rocky core in about a billion years.
-
NASA’s Parker Probe Sends Closest-Ever Images from Inside the Sun’s Corona
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a solar milestone by capturing the closest-ever images of the Sun, taken just 3.8 million miles from its surface in December 2024. These WISPR images reveal unprecedented details of the corona, solar wind, and CME collisions. Scientists say this breakthrough will improve our ability to forecast space weather...
-
Uranus Found Emitting Internal Heat, Reviving Hopes for Flagship NASA Mission
Astronomers have discovered that Uranus emits 12% more heat than it receives from sunlight, contradicting past data from Voyager 2. The internal warmth likely comes from leftover energy in the planet’s core, offering clues to its tilt and interior structure. This unexpected heat has intensified calls for a flagship NASA mission to Uranus. Scienti...
-
Dark Dwarfs: New Star-Like Objects May Reveal Nature of Dark Matter
Scientists have proposed a new class of stellar objects called “dark dwarfs,” sub-stellar bodies that may glow faintly from the energy released by annihilating dark matter particles. Found near the galaxy’s core, these objects could hold crucial clues about the elusive nature of dark matter. Powered not by fusion but by WIMP-like particles, d...
-
NASA Astronaut Captures Stunning 'Sprite' Light Show Above Earth's Atmosphere
Sprites are a type of TLE, which create brilliant flashes of light high above powerful thunderstorms and are difficult to observe from the ground.
-
James Webb Space Telescope Detects Phosphine on Brown Dwarf Wolf 1130C
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have detected phosphine gas in the atmosphere of the brown dwarf Wolf 1130C, about 54 light-years away. The finding suggests phosphine can form in extreme, non-biological environments, challenging its status as a potential biomarker and reshaping how scientists search for alien life.
-
Rubin Observatory Adopts New AI Algorithm to Enhance Cosmic Imaging
Scientists have developed ImageMM, an algorithm tested on Hawaii’s Subaru Telescope and soon to be used at the Rubin Observatory. The system reduces atmospheric blur, producing sharper images for studying galaxies and dark matter. Researchers believe the technique could make ground-based astronomy nearly as precise as space telescopes
-
Moon Is Rusting: Scientists Stunned By Hematite Discovery On Lunar Surface
Understanding of rusting could impact future lunar missions, resource utilisation and equipment design.
-
Astronomers Reveal Sudden Explosion of Small Asteroid Over France
In February 2023, asteroid 2023 CX1 exploded suddenly over France, stunning scientists. Tracked only hours before impact, the tiny rock disintegrated in a powerful airburst, scattering meteorites across Normandy. The rare event provides crucial insights into asteroid behavior and raises new considerations for future planetary defense strategies.
-
Researchers Develop Method to Predict Rare Green Auroral Events on Mars
In 2024, NASA’s Perseverance rover captured the first green aurora on Mars. Now scientists can forecast these rare events by tracking powerful solar storms. Beyond their glow, auroras signal radiation that could endanger astronauts. This breakthrough forecasting method is crucial for protecting future human explorers on the Red Planet.
-
Diamond 'Super-Earth' May Not Be Quite as Precious as Once Thought, Study Finds
New research challenges the idea that 55 Cancri e, once dubbed a “diamond planet”, is rich in carbon. Re-analysing telescope data, scientists concluded that the host star has a lot more oxygen than originally believed, making the possibility that its planet formed with a carbon-dominant atmosphere less likely.
-
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Spots Megaripples, Proof Mars' Soil Is Still Shifting
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered striking megaripples — giant Martian sand waves — at a site called Kerrlaguna in Jezero Crater. These formations, about a meter tall, are larger than Earth’s beach ripples but smaller than the biggest dunes. Scientists say they formed when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and stronger winds, and many no...
-
Earth to Spin Faster on July 22 to Make It One of the Shortest Days in Recorded History
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Earth will complete its rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the usual 24 hours, scientists say. That will make it the second-shortest day ever recorded, just behind July 10, 2025. The trend of shorter days has accelerated since 2020, attributed to factors like the Moon’s position, mass shifts from melting ice, and at...
-
Algae-Grown Bioplastic Passes Mars Pressure Test, Boosting Hopes for Red Planet Habitats
Scientists have successfully grown algae in bioplastic chambers under Mars-like conditions, marking a step toward sustainable habitats for astronauts. The chambers, made from polylactic acid, supported photosynthesis and stabilized liquid water. This breakthrough suggests self-replicating biomaterials could reduce Earth-based resupply, advancing lo...
-
Magnetic Wave Study Detects Lithium in Mercury’s Exosphere for First Time Ever
For the first time, scientists have detected lithium in Mercury’s exosphere using magnetic wave signatures found in MESSENGER spacecraft data. The findings link lithium’s release to meteoroid impacts that vaporise planetary material, offering fresh insight into volatile element delivery. This breakthrough reshapes our understanding of Mercury...
-
Chandra Spots Distant Baby Planet Losing Its Atmosphere Under Intense X-ray Assault
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a rare glimpse of TOI 1227 b, a young, Jupiter-sized exoplanet losing its atmosphere under intense stellar radiation. Just 8 million years old, the planet is shrinking rapidly as X-rays strip away its mass. Scientists warn it may become a barren rocky core in about a billion years.
-
NASA’s Parker Probe Sends Closest-Ever Images from Inside the Sun’s Corona
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a solar milestone by capturing the closest-ever images of the Sun, taken just 3.8 million miles from its surface in December 2024. These WISPR images reveal unprecedented details of the corona, solar wind, and CME collisions. Scientists say this breakthrough will improve our ability to forecast space weather...
-
Uranus Found Emitting Internal Heat, Reviving Hopes for Flagship NASA Mission
Astronomers have discovered that Uranus emits 12% more heat than it receives from sunlight, contradicting past data from Voyager 2. The internal warmth likely comes from leftover energy in the planet’s core, offering clues to its tilt and interior structure. This unexpected heat has intensified calls for a flagship NASA mission to Uranus. Scienti...
-
Dark Dwarfs: New Star-Like Objects May Reveal Nature of Dark Matter
Scientists have proposed a new class of stellar objects called “dark dwarfs,” sub-stellar bodies that may glow faintly from the energy released by annihilating dark matter particles. Found near the galaxy’s core, these objects could hold crucial clues about the elusive nature of dark matter. Powered not by fusion but by WIMP-like particles, d...
-
NASA Astronaut Captures Stunning 'Sprite' Light Show Above Earth's Atmosphere
Sprites are a type of TLE, which create brilliant flashes of light high above powerful thunderstorms and are difficult to observe from the ground.
