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| Colors of ExoEarths Could Indicate Habitability |
| Topic: Alien Life |
11/09/12 |
| When direct detection of Earth-like planets becomes possible, scientists want to be able to easily characterize these planets and see which ones might be suitable for alien life. A new technique shows how the unique colors of particular environments known to harbor extremophile life on Earth can be detected remotely. |
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| How Hot are Super-Earths? |
| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
09/27/12 |
| A new study suggests that rocky super-Earths might cool down very slowly after their formation, making them hotter than previously thought. The research could have implications in understanding how "Earth-like" these planets truly are. |
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| Does Triton Have a Subsurface Ocean? |
| Topic: Outer Solar System |
09/06/12 |
| Neptune’s largest moon Triton is most likely a captured Kuiper Belt Object. The capture of icy Triton and the subsequent taming of its orbit likely led to the formation of a subsurface ocean through tidal heating. New research suggests that this ocean could still exist today. |
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| How Old are the First Planets? |
| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
08/30/12 |
| Heavy elements – ‘metals’ in astronomer-speak – are created within stars and then spewed out across the cosmos by supernovae. Scientists are now asking: when did the Universe have enough metals to start building planets? |
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| Curiosity In It for the Long Haul |
| Topic: Mars |
08/27/12 |
| Curiosity’s first successful drive across the martian landscape is cause for celebration. Astrobiology Magazine Field Research Editor Henry Bortman thinks it is also a good moment to pause and reflect on MSL’s long-term goals. |
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| Life's First Taste of Phosphorus |
| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/23/12 |
| Phosphorus is vital to life on Earth, even though our planet doesn't provide life very much phosphorus to work with. Scientists are now studying how phosphorus biochemistry may have originated at the dawn of life. |
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| A Curiosity Photo Gallery |
| Topic: Mars |
08/08/12 |
| Astrobiology Magazine looks at the first images of the Curiosity rover at Mars, and the reasons that the MSL team are so excited about what they're seeing. |
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| Curiosity is on Mars |
| Topic: Mars |
08/06/12 |
| Curiosity has successfully touched down on Mars. Several minutes later, amidst the cheers and high-fives at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories, the rover’s first image was received on Earth. |
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