Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography Archives

A dolomite sample from the Cambrian Muav formation as seen through a microscope. Multiple generations of mineral-growth can be seen. In the study we used a laser-ablation system to sample specific mineral fabrics and measure their U- and Pb compositions. -- Uri Ryb

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ancient Earth’s Ocean Oxygenation Timeline Revealed

by Keith CowingApril 5, 2024April 5, 2024

New study introduces a pioneering application of dolomite U-Pb geochronology, shedding new light on the evolution of ancient marine environments. By uncovering discrepancies in dolomite samples U-Pb ratios, the team […]

Model transmission spectra used for cross-correlation. Top: Transmission spectra with contributions from H2O (blue), CH4 (brown) and NH3 (green), with the spectral baseline set by H2-H2 and H2-He collision-induced absorption. Bottom: Cloud-free and cloudy transmission spectra for the CH4 model with a grey-opacity cloud deck placed at various cloud top pressures. The cloud-free spectrum shown in brown is the same in both figures. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

High-resolution Spectroscopic Reconnaissance Of A Temperate Sub-Neptune

by Keith CowingMarch 29, 2024

The study of temperate sub-Neptunes is the new frontier in exoplanetary science. A major development in the past year has been the first detection of carbon-bearing molecules in the atmosphere […]

Sizes and densities of potential icy ocean worlds, compared to the Earth (image source: NASA).

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Icy Ocean Worlds, Plumes, And Tasting The Water

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2024March 27, 2024

This paper considers how space missions that fly through the plumes known, or suspected, to erupt naturally from some icy ocean worlds (IOW), such as Enceladus, or that aim to […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Unlocking Clearer Views Of Water Worlds: A Landsat Legacy

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2024March 27, 2024

Editor’s note: we are finding worlds orbiting other stars that may well be water worlds. These worlds may similar in some ways to our own and most likely different at […]

Enceladus, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Enceladus Is A Top Target For ESA

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2024March 27, 2024

A fresh, icy crust hides a deep, enigmatic ocean. Plumes of water burst through cracks in the ice, shooting into space. An intrepid lander collects samples and analyses them for […]

With a 4,500-meter capability, Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) was delivered to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in late 2017 and is engaging in intensive scientific operations. Credit: CGTN.

Away Teams & Field Reports, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ocean World Exploration: A Breakthrough In Underwater Exploration Technology

by Keith CowingMarch 26, 2024March 26, 2024

Scientists have developed an innovative calibration algorithm for the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).This algorithm significantly enhances navigation precision by utilizing acoustic signals from seabed beacons. Highlighting the critical importance of […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Biogenic Sulfur Gases As Biosignatures On Temperate Sub-Neptune Waterworlds

by Keith CowingMarch 24, 2024March 24, 2024

Theoretical predictions and observational data indicate a class of sub-Neptune exoplanets may have water-rich interiors covered by hydrogen-dominated atmospheres. Provided suitable climate conditions, such planets could host surface liquid oceans.

An artist’s rendition of Saturn’s moon Enceladus depicts hydrothermal activity on the seafloor and cracks in the moon’s icy crust that allow material from the watery interior to be ejected into space. New research shows that instruments destined for the next missions could find traces of a single cell in a single ice grain contained in a plume. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Signs Of Life Are Detectable In A Single Ice Grain Emitted From Icy Moons

by Keith CowingMarch 23, 2024March 23, 2024

The ice-encrusted oceans of some of the moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter are leading candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life. A new lab-based study led by the University of […]

Summary of results for a synthetic 20-planet sample of planets with two-populations: a Mercury-like one with µmlcomp = 0.7 CMF and wml = 0.25 and an Earth-like population with µ elcomp = 0.325 CMF and wel = 0.75. -- astro-ph.EP

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

A Gap In The Densities Of Small Planets Orbiting M Dwarfs: Rigorous Statistical Confirmation Using The Open-source Code RhoPop

by Keith CowingMarch 22, 2024March 22, 2024

Using mass-radius-composition models, small planets (R≲2R⊕) are typically classified into three types: iron-rich, nominally Earth-like, and those with solid/liquid water and/or atmosphere.

Transmission spectrum of LHS 1140 b. The two transit observations are color coded, i.e., blue for the G235H grating and green for the G395H grating. The models shown are randomly selected solutions from the posterior distributions of Scenario 4 (Table 4, corresponding to N2-H2O atmospheres with deep clouds). We have applied the best-fit offsets to the data. The offset between the two visits is ∼ 50 ppm, while the offset between the two detectors within each of the two visits is negligible (see Figure 4 and Table 5). -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

LHS 1140 b Is A Potentially Habitable Water World

by Keith CowingMarch 21, 2024March 21, 2024

LHS 1140 b is a small planet orbiting in the habitable zone of its M4.5V dwarf host. Recent mass and radius constraints have indicated that it has either a thick […]