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Nearby SuperEarth Likely a Diamond Planet
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| Topic: New Planets |
10/12/12 |
| Summary:
New research suggests that a rocky planet twice the size of Earth and orbiting a nearby star is a diamond planet. It may be the first glimpse of a rocky world with a fundamentally different chemistry than our own planet. |
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How Galaxies Get Dusty
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| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
10/11/12 |
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In one of the largest Hubble Space Telescope projects to date, astronomers are hoping to uncover how cosmic dust forms over time. The research is an important step in understanding the evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. |
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Clouds of Water Present at Star's Birth
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| Topic: Cosmic Evolution |
10/10/12 |
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Enough water to fill Earth's oceans more than 2000 times over has been discovered in a cloud of gas and dust that is on the verge of collapsing into a new Sun-like star. The finding could help astrobiologists understand the conditions of the early Solar System. |
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Searching for Dyson Spheres and Alternate Universes
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| Topic: Alien Life |
10/10/12 |
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Two new research grants are supporting projects that bleed into science fiction. The first could help identify advanced civilizations powered by massive, orbiting solar power stations. The second study will look for ways of detecting universes other than our own. |
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Seeking Life Underground
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| Topic: Extreme Life |
10/09/12 |
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With funding from the NASA Astrobiology Institute, scientists are developing and testing instruments and techniques to detect life deep below Earth's surface. |
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Asteroid Fragments Could Hint at Origin of the Solar System
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| Topic: Mercury |
10/09/12 |
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Tiny pieces of rock captured from the astroid Itokawa by the Japanese mission Hayabusa are now being analyzed. It is the first time asteroid samples have been returned to Earth, and they could help astrobiologists understand the origin of the Solar System. |
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Why Curiosity Matters
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| Topic: Mars |
10/07/12 |
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Adam Steltzner, the Entry, Descent and Landing Phase Lead for Curiosity, explains why the Mars rover matters to ordinary people. Space exploration is an expensive endeavor, but the benefits that missions bring can be wide-reaching in terms of education and economic payback. |
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A Curiously Cold Layer in Venus Atmosphere
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| Topic: Venus |
10/06/12 |
| Summary:
A new study shows that Venus has a surprisingly cold region high in its atmosphere, where carbon dioxide might freeze out as ice or snow. |
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Curiosity Soon to Scoop Some Soil
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| Topic: Mars |
10/06/12 |
| Summary:
Curiosity is preparing to take its first scoop of martian soil for analysis. Soil samples will be used for key experiments on the rover to test whether or not environmental conditions in Gale Crater were once favorable for microbial life. |
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