04 December 2015
Rare Lithium-Rich Star Discovered
... constituting only 1-2% of all observed giant stars. Researchers determined that KIS 9821622 is also rich in carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Typically, stars destroy most of their lithium soon after formation, consuming it at nuclear fusion temperatures...
16 March 2016
Fog looms large on Titan
Titan’s thick nitrogen and methane atmosphere is reason enough not to linger long on the surface of this unique moon, now scientists ...
22 June 2016
Does a subsurface ocean exist on Pluto?
... to substantiate this theory. Not only that, but the multi-hued appearance of Pluto’s surface is indicative of water, nitrogen and methane ices littering the planet and their discovery bolster the case for a thick ice...
09 September 2016
OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on its way to study Bennu after successful launch Thursday
... surface to collect samples. The spacecraft is equipped with TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism), which uses nitrogen gas puffs to lightly disturb the surface of the rock and then collect the resulting material in its...
17 October 2016
ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbitor positions itself ready for its planned orbit insertion on Wednesday
... also carries scientific instruments of its own to detect and study trace gases, such as methane, water vapour, nitrogen oxides, and acetylene that are present in very small amounts (less than 1%) in the Martian atmosphere. It will...
20 February 2017
SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully on its way to the ISS
... to the outside of the station to make daily observations for several years to come, on the levels of aerosols, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and water vapour in the stratosphere and troposphere high above Earth. The Dragon craft is also...
