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Near-infrared observations of large dark asteroids in the main belt reveal that they have spectral characteristics similar to those of the dwarf planet Ceres. Thermal evolution models suggest that these asteroids accreted at large orbital distances and may have been implanted into the main belt by the dynamic instability of the giant planets.
Forty-year monitoring of Jupiter reveals long-term oscillations and teleconnections across the north–south hemispheres and upper–lower atmospheres. This discovery has important implications for the atmospheres of exoplanets and brown dwarfs.
The transformations of energy that accompany solar magnetic activity have far-reaching ramifications beyond heliophysics. Understanding the dynamical chain is fundamental to assess habitability and the capacity for life elsewhere.
A device combining a pulsed laser system with an Orbitrap mass analyser is well-suited for in situ exploration of prime astrobiological targets, such as Enceladus. Here a prototype of this instrument that is optimized for spaceflight applications demonstrates that this device could be used to characterize chemical biosignatures in future missions.
Upcoming X-ray microcalorimeter missions should deliver high spectral finesse, and allow detailed studies of accretion processes and feedback mechanisms in growing black holes.
New analyses of data from NASA’s InSight mission show that the majority of marsquakes arise from warm rocks near a set of young volcanic fissures. This ongoing seismicity reveals that this region was recently volcanically active and may remain so today.
A fast-rising and rapidly evolving tidal disruption event in a dwarf galaxy could indicate the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole, and such nuclear transients in general could provide an opportunity to study these reclusive compact objects.
Elucidating the origin of recent tensions between probes of the early and late Universe could lead to a new understanding of gravity on the largest scales.
The theme of tensions in cosmology has become increasingly important in the cosmological community, proving capable of attracting new generations of scientists who want to be there and contribute to the next paradigm shift.
The habitability of early Mars’s subsurface to methanogenic microorganisms was assessed using a planetary ecosystem model that couples a subsurface biosphere to the atmospheric chemistry and climate. Mars’s subsurface was initially likely habitable, but the biosphere would have cooled the planet down, potentially compromising its long-term habitability.
The Earth is a rocky planet in the so-called classical habitable zone (HZ), with a surface ocean taking up just ~10–4 of its total mass. A study suggests that 5–10% of Earth-sized planets in the HZ around red dwarfs are ‘Earth-like’: rocky, with a small but non-zero amount of water on their surface.
The sound community has developed many methods for listening to the Universe and not just looking at it. With their help, astronomers can increase the diversity of sonification tools, uses and users.
The coda correlation wavefield technique provides a powerful tool for surveying planetary interiors using only data from a single station. Its application to the SEIS seismometer on the InSight lander, which has been providing unique data on the interior of Mars since 2018, is a promising example of what it can bring to planetary seismology studies.
Preliminary observations from the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer of a well-studied X-ray pulsar are discordant with theoretical expectations, prompting a reassessment of our understanding of the accretion process.
The European Astronomical Society (EAS) awarded its most prestigious prizes during its annual meeting held in Valencia, Spain. After two virtual meetings, astronomers attended in-person or watched some of the sessions remotely.
