Space and planetary science – Page 3
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NewsDrones take flight to go where scientists dare not
From making chemical plants safer to sampling volcanoes and even exploring other planets uncrewed aerial systems could revolutionise science
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ResearchIngredient for life detected in icy plume from Saturn’s moon Enceladus
First discovery of phosphorus in an ocean beyond Earth reveals that the bio-essential element may be abundant on the moon
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ResearchLife might be able to prosper in sulfuric acid clouds of Venus
Nucleic acid bases found to be stable in conditions found in the planet’s atmosphere
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ResearchAromatic molecules in a galaxy far, far away
JWST IR observations suggest star formation was rapid and uneven in early galaxy
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OpinionReturning to the moon
It’s been a while, but space agencies are starting to plan their trips back to our satellite, with the goal of building semi-permanent bases
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FeatureThe race to build a base on the moon
Nina Notman talks to scientists helping to return humans to the moon – for good this time
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ResearchSaturn’s rings found to be a youthful, recent addition to the planet
Nasa’s Cassini probe reveals dust and ice around the planet is only a few hundred million years old
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ResearchMoon still holds surprises as vast amounts of water found in glass beads in lunar soil
Lunar water formed by the solar wind could one day aid exploration of the moon
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ResearchRNA building block uracil recovered from near-Earth asteroid Ryugu
Japanese mission returns pristine sample to bolster idea that prebiotic chemicals could have been delivered by meteorites
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OpinionAnalysing the Winchcombe meteor fireball
The story behind the first spectrum of a meteor which became a recovered meteorite in the UK
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WebinarUranus: exploring the ice-cold chemistry of the ‘frozen frontier’
Find out why scientists are planning a new space mission to explore the planetary ice giant Uranus
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FeatureMission to Uranus
With no spacecraft visiting the ice giants for over 30 years, Anthony King speaks to the planetary scientists planning a return visit
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NewsThe most complete list ever of Martian organic compounds compiled
Catalogue includes organic compounds from the five Martian meteorites that have been found on Earth
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NewsEuropean Space Agency unveils plans to get troubled rover to Mars
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended European cooperation on launch of Rosalind Franklin rover
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ResearchMars’ water came from outer space
Asteroids from the outer solar system would have delivered enough water to cover the red planet in a 300m-deep ocean
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ResearchPerseverance rover reveals rocks on Mars were repeatedly exposed to liquid water
Suite of analytical tools provides new insight into red planet’s geochemistry
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OpinionJames Lovelock, a gentleman scientist
Philip Ball reflects on the legacy of the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, who has died aged 103
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OpinionFarsighted science
The Webb telescope looks set to deliver on its promise to change the way we see the universe
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NewsFirst James Webb Space Telescope images provide taste of astrochemistry still to come
Observatory off to bright start revealing chemical make-up of the universe