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Wide Binary Stars Can Disrupt Planetary Systems
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| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
01/09/13 |
| Summary:
A new study suggests that planetary systems with binary stars that are far apart could experience dramatic, disruptive events over time. Researchers used our solar system as a model and added a distant binary companion for the Sun. In over half the simulations, one of the four giant planets was ejected from our system. |
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Origin of Life May Have Emerged From Bioenergetics
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
01/08/13 |
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For the first time, scientists have traced a pathway that leads from rocks, water and carbon to the emergence of the strange bio-energetic properties of living cells. |
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Kepler Mission Announces 461 New Planet Candidates
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| Topic: New Planets |
01/08/13 |
| Summary:
NASA's Kepler mission has announced the discovery of 461 new planet candidates. Four of the potential new planets are less than twice the size of Earth and orbit in their sun's "habitable zone." |
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Vesta Impacts Delivered Carbon
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
01/06/13 |
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NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured images of two enormous craters in the southern hemisphere of Vesta. Studies now show that the impacts not only altered Vesta's shape, but also its surface composition. |
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Ups and Downs in Biodiversity After Mass Extinction
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
01/06/13 |
| Summary:
A new study shows that diversity of marine fauna ballooned in response to climate fluctuations following Earth's largest known mass extinction. Over time, however, climate change adversely affected biodiversity and species went extinct. |
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First Meteorite Linked to Martian Crust
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| Topic: Mars |
01/05/13 |
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Researchers have identified a new class of martian meteorite that likely originated from Mars' crust. The meteorite used in the study was also dated to the early Amazonian epoch on Mars and contains more water than any other martian meteorite yet found. |
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Studying Planet-Forming Gas Streams
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| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
01/04/13 |
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For the first time, astronomers have witnessed a key stage in the birth of giant planets around a young star. |
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100 Billion Planets May Populate the Galaxy
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| Topic: New Planets |
01/04/13 |
| Summary:
New research provides more evidence that planetary systems are the norm. In fact, the study's authors claim that there are at least 100 billion planets in our galaxy alone. |
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