Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
92 results for "planetary science"
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope just revealed the atmosphere of TOI-199b, a Saturn-sized planet 330 light-years away with surprisingly Earth-like temperatures. This breakthrough marks the first time scientists have studied a temperate gas giant in detail, opening a new window into how planets form.
For the first time, scientists have mapped daily weather patterns on a planet 700 light-years away, revealing mornings filled with metallic clouds that vanish by evening. The James Webb Space Telescope's powerful eye is unlocking secrets about distant worlds we could never see before.
NASA scientists discovered an "impossible" phenomenon squeezing Mars' atmosphere during a 2023 solar storm. The find could protect future astronauts and missions to the Red Planet.
For decades, Saturn appeared to be doing the impossible: changing how fast it spins. Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope just discovered the beautiful truth behind this cosmic illusion.
Researchers have created nature-inspired micro-drones that mimic dandelion seeds to explore Mars' massive lava tubes, which stretch over 746 miles and are eight times wider than Earth's volcanic caves. The innovative robots could unlock secrets hidden beneath the Red Planet's surface. ##
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F28%2Fd8%2F28d8c4a5-8fdf-4bb9-b101-6a55414122ac%2F1-pia26771-mars-crescent-pydenxfs.webp)
A spacecraft heading to explore a metal-rich asteroid just flew within 2,864 miles of Mars, capturing breathtaking images while getting a gravity-powered speed boost. The clever maneuver saved fuel and put the mission on track for a 2029 arrival that could reveal secrets about how Earth's core formed.
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered that Nereid, Neptune's third-largest moon, might be the only survivor from when the planet first formed billions of years ago. This finding could unlock mysteries about how planets across the universe develop their moons.
Scientists discovered a rare giant planet with surprisingly comfortable temperatures and a methane-rich atmosphere. The finding opens new doors for understanding how planets form and evolve.
A spacecraft heading to explore a mysterious metal asteroid captured stunning new views of Mars during a strategic flyby that boosted its speed by 1,000 miles per hour. The images offer perspectives of the red planet rarely seen by human eyes.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft snapped photos of Mars showing dramatic 30-mile wind patterns carved across ancient craters. The mission proves space exploration can deliver incredible discoveries even while traveling to completely different destinations.
NASA's Psyche mission just nailed a tricky Mars gravity assist, getting a 1,000 mph speed boost on its way to explore a metal-rich asteroid that could reveal secrets about how planets form. The spacecraft is now barreling toward its 2029 destination after capturing stunning close-up images of the Red Planet.
Scientists discovered the Zwan-Wolf effect happening in Mars' atmosphere for the first time, revealing how the Red Planet's thin air gets squeezed during solar storms. This breakthrough helps explain how Mars transformed from a wet world to today's cold desert.
Researchers have confirmed the first underground lava tunnel on Venus, a discovery that could reshape our understanding of the mysterious planet. The giant volcanic cave offers hope for future exploration missions.
A massive 1,300-kilometer valley on Mars is offering scientists fresh evidence that the Red Planet once hosted an ocean during a warmer, wetter era. New images from the Mars Express spacecraft show dramatic flood channels, collapsed terrain, and volcanic features that paint a picture of ancient water reshaping an entire world.
A stunning new image from space shows dark volcanic ash scattered across a massive Martian valley where water once flowed 3.5 billion years ago. The discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of Mars' watery past and hints at conditions that may once have supported life.
NASA's Perseverance rover just sent back a breathtaking selfie from the oldest rocks it's ever explored on Mars. The image shows the robot explorer perched on ancient terrain that could hold secrets about whether life once existed on the Red Planet.
NASA's Perseverance rover just explored the oldest terrain in its five-year mission, discovering ancient rocks that could reveal whether Mars once had a magma ocean. Scientists say these 4-billion-year-old formations might finally explain how the Red Planet became habitable.
NASA engineers successfully freed a 28-pound Martian rock that clung to the Curiosity rover's drill for six days, resulting in stunning close-up images. The unexpected mishap turned into one of the mission's most memorable moments after more than a decade on Mars.
NASA's Mars rovers discovered minerals that form Earth's precious gems scattered across the Red Planet's surface. Scientists say these tiny crystals could unlock secrets about Mars's ancient past and whether it ever hosted life.
Saturn's iconic rings aren't just beautiful decoration. They're actively feeding the planet with water, ice, and complex molecules in a cosmic connection that's rewriting what we know about our solar system.
Showing 20 of 92