Earth This massive exoplanet has an atmosphere that can appear luminous under certain conditions. editor1, August 7, 2024 Imagine Jupiter, the gas giant, and then expand it to more than five times its size. Now, place it close to a sun-like star so that its atmospheric surface is heated to around 4,600 degrees Fahrenheit. This is WASP-121b, a type of exoplanet known as a “hot Jupiter.” It’s located… Continue Reading
Earth Exoplanet hunters want to block starlight with a giant orbiting shade editor1, August 6, 2024 Over the past decade, finding Earth-like exoplanets has become a major focus in astronomy. Although searching for such planets amidst billions of stars and galaxies is a monumental task, a new NASA initiative aims to significantly enhance our ability to detect them. The proposed project, known as the Hybrid Observatory… Continue Reading
Earth JWST just scanned the skies of potentially habitable exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b editor1, August 6, 2024 About 40 light years away, there is a system known as TRAPPIST-1, which contains seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a star much cooler and smaller than our Sun. Discovered in 2016, these planets have sparked interest due to their potential to support conditions that might be suitable for life. Three of… Continue Reading
Earth JWST has detected a new exoplanet that is six times the diameter of Jupiter. editor1, August 5, 2024August 6, 2024 In a study published on July 24 in *Nature*, an international team of 19 scientists reported the discovery of a new supergiant exoplanet orbiting the star Eps Ind A. The planet, named Eps Ind Ab, was observed using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and has a mass at least… Continue Reading
Universe Jupiter’s Great Red Spot might be relatively young, possibly less than 200 years old, based on current estimates. editor1, August 5, 2024 Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot might not be the same dark spot observed on the planet over three centuries ago. From 1665 to 1713, astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini and others documented a dark oval feature on Jupiter, known as the Permanent Spot, located at the same latitude as the current… Continue Reading
Universe Unusual observations of galaxies raise questions about our current understanding of dark matter. editor1, August 5, 2024 Unusual observations of distant galaxies are prompting cosmologists to reconsider established theories about the universe, including the existence of dark matter. A study published on June 20 in *The Astrophysical Journal Letters* suggests that these observations might challenge the current understanding of dark matter. Richard Brent Tully, an astronomer at… Continue Reading
Earth Sulfur was key to the first water on Earth editor1, August 5, 2024 The discovery suggests that rocky planets may have the potential to develop water relatively early in their history, which could increase the likelihood of conditions favorable for life. However, this doesn’t guarantee that all rocky planets will become wet or that life will necessarily arise. The presence of water is… Continue Reading
Invention Scientists plan to launch brand new solar panels into SPACE to solve energy crisis editor1, August 4, 2024 UK scientists are planning to launch brand new solar panels into space in order to solve the current energy crisis. In order to kickstart the scheme, the UK Space Agency plan to put up an initial £500,000 of taxpayers’ money to build prototypes for the project. The scientists are planning to construct the jumbo panels, inset,… Continue Reading
Universe Why People Think Aliens Might Exist, According to Experts editor1, August 4, 2024 Belief in aliens has been a recurring theme throughout history. According to a 2019 Gallup poll, about one-third of Americans think that UFO sightings might be evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft. However, 60 percent believe these unusual sightings can be explained by human activity or natural phenomena, and 7 percent are… Continue Reading
How tiny black holes might interact with the Sun, Earth, and living organisms editor1, August 4, 2024August 4, 2024 Dead Planets Society is a podcast that explores imaginative scenarios involving cosmic phenomena—such as splitting the Moon or triggering a gravitational wave catastrophe—and examines them through the lens of physics. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or through our podcast page. In the early universe, there might have been… Continue Reading