Researchers are exploring how cosmic radiation interacting with ice particles can form prebiotic molecules, with significant implications for understanding the origins of life in the universe and potential applications in medical and environmental fields. Cosmic Origins and Prebiotic Chemistry Who are we? Why are we here? As the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song suggests ..read more

After 3½ years exploring Jezero Crater’s floor and river delta, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover will ascend to an area where it will search for more discoveries that could rewrite Mars’ history. NASA’s Perseverance rover is embarking on a challenging ascent of Jezero Crater’s western rim, entering its fifth science campaign to explore key regions like ..read more

NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered rock samples from Mars that could alter our understanding of water’s history on the planet and potentially reveal past life. These samples, collected over five months in 2022 from Jezero Crater, are crucial because they were transported and deposited by water, possibly retaining evidence of past microbial life. However, detailed ..read more

Researchers from UC Santa Cruz suggest that low-temperature hydrothermal vents, similar to those found on Earth, could exist on ocean worlds like Jupiter’s moons, potentially supporting life. Their study used computer models to simulate conditions on these extraterrestrial seafloors, considering factors like gravity and heat. The findings highlight the significance of understanding Earth’s own hydrothermal ..read more

Geophysicists using seismic data from NASA’s Insight lander have discovered a significant underground water reservoir on Mars, potentially enough to have once filled ancient oceans. This reservoir, trapped within the mid-crust of Mars, suggests that the red planet’s water did not entirely escape into space but was absorbed into its crust, altering previous theories about ..read more

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered an intriguing rock on Mars, named Cheyava Falls, showcasing potential signs of ancient life due to its unique chemical signatures and structural features. This finding, supported by the presence of organic compounds and distinct color patterns suggestive of microbial activity, fuels ongoing research to determine Mars’s habitability. Discovery of Cheyava ..read more

Mars, though currently a frigid, dry landscape, harbors compelling signs of its wetter past and potential subterranean water sources that could support life or future ..read more

Through a 3D star map, researchers analyze how nearby stars might impact their planets’ atmospheres with X-rays, helping guide the search for habitable exoplanets by ..read more

Red dwarf stars can produce stellar flares with far-ultraviolet radiation levels far exceeding previous expectations, potentially affecting the habitability of surrounding planets. A groundbreaking study ..read more

Astronomers are using Chandra and XMM-Newton to evaluate whether nearby stars emit radiation levels compatible with habitable exoplanets. This research aims to help prioritize stars ..read more