Scientists have hypothesized since the 1960s that the Sun is a source of ingredients that form water on the Moon. When a stream of charged particles known as the solar […]
Impact events
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release
Carbonaceous Meteorites Are Fragile
An international team of researchers may have answered one of space science’s long-running questions – and it could change our understanding of how life began.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extinction events, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Impact events, Press Release
Dinosaurs’ Apparent Decline Prior To Asteroid May Be Due To A Poor Fossil Record
The idea that dinosaurs were already in decline before an asteroid wiped most of them out 66 million years ago may be explained by a worsening fossil record from that […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extinction events, Habitable Zones, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release
Life Recovered Rapidly After The Chicxulub Impact – A Hydrothermal System May Have Helped
About 66 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into the planet, wiping out all non-avian dinosaurs and about 70% of all marine species.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biophysics, Extinction events, Habitable Zones, Impact events, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Ray Ionisation Of A Post-impact Early Earth Atmosphere: Solar Cosmic Ray Ionisation Must Be Considered In Origin-of-life Scenarios
Cosmic rays (CR), both solar and Galactic, have an ionising effect on the Earth’s atmosphere and are thought to be important for prebiotic molecule production. In particular, the H2-dominated atmosphere […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Extinction events, Impact events, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Press Release
Hunga Volcano Eruption Cooled, Rather Than Warmed, Earth’s Southern Hemisphere
When Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, an underwater volcano near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, erupted in 2022, scientists expected that it would spew enough water vapor into the stratosphere to […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Orbit, Meteoroid Size, And Cosmic Ray Exposure History Of The Aguas Zarcas CM2 Breccia
The Aguas Zarcas (Costa Rica) CM2 carbonaceous chondrite fell during night time in April 2019. Security and dashboard camera video of the meteor were analyzed to provide a trajectory, lightcurve, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release
A Meteorite With Water-rich Minerals Lands On Earth In Good Condition
In April 2019, rare primitive meteorites fell near the town of Aguas Zarcas in northern Costa Rica. In an article published online in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science, an […]
Posted inComets and Asteroids, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Extinction events, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Impact events, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
The Atmospheric Entry of Cometary Impactors
Cometary impacts play an important role in the early evolution of Earth, and other terrestrial exoplanets.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Impact events, Status Report, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Impacts Into Titan’s Methane-clathrate Crust As A Source Of Atmospheric Methane
Titan is the only icy satellite in the solar system with a dense atmosphere. This atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen with a few percent methane, which supports an active, […]