Planetary science
The latest chemistry news and research on planetary science, including our solar system, exoplanets and planetary geochemistry, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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ResearchOne of the biggest questions in Mars science may have been answered by the Curiosity rover
Mystery of where all the carbon dioxide went that once made the red planet far more hospitable has puzzled scientists for years
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ResearchLong-chain alkanes preserved in Martian mudstone
Molecules could have derived from biological fatty acids, although abiotic origins are also possible
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ResearchJWST reveals exoplanet composition with unprecedented clarity
Direct evidence of carbon enrichment in the planets around HR 8799 provides clues to their formation
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ResearchFerrihydrite in Martian dust may explain red planet’s colour – and hint at water-rich past
Idea of a dry past challenged, suggesting liquid water persisted longer than expected
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ResearchLife’s ingredients discovered in samples Nasa probe returned from an asteroid
Asteroid Bennu found to contain nucleobases, amino acids and ammonia
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ResearchHunt for life should search for minerals as well as water, Chinese scientists claim
Serpentine minerals form in warm water and break down to key ingredients for life
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ResearchMeteorite 200 times larger than one that killed dinosaurs reset early life
Counterintuitively, impact brought benefits too by providing microorganisms with iron and phosphorus
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NewsPerseverance rover’s discovery of organics on Mars could be illusory
Hopes that compounds were sign of prebiotic chemistry or even ancient life may be result of instrument limitations
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NewsControversial phosphine findings on Venus corroborated
Unpublished data reveals that phosphine – a potential marker of life – is likely present although could be a result of unknown chemistry
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ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
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ResearchCassini probe’s radar provide new insight into Titan’s liquid hydrocarbon seas
Seas have different ratios of methane to ethane
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ResearchAI trained on photos of salt ‘stains’ can predict their chemical composition
Imaging could become a simple way to identify inorganic salt crystals on other planets
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FeatureThe perchlorate Martian mystery
Rachel Brazil looks at how the compounds might have formed on our neighbouring planet and whether they could be useful for future exploration
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ResearchCrystal analysis pushes the moon’s age back 40 million years
Samples retrieved by Apollo astronauts show that the moon formed 4.46 billion years ago
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WebinarAstronomical spectroscopy: understanding the complex chemistry hidden between the stars
Find out how scientists are resolving the chemistry of the gaps between the stars and planets
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NewsExplainer: has life been discovered on an exoplanet?
Potential detection of dimethyl sulfide on K2-18 b has excited the scientific community but it’s still much too early to reach any conclusions
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OpinionCan life exist outside of the habitable zone?
Speculation about conditions on Venus raises questions about our existing definitions
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ResearchLiquid water could have carved Mars’ famous gullies
CO2 sublimation could have raised atmospheric pressure enough for liquid water to form