The thermal evolution of magma oceans formed by giant impacts is strongly influenced by a proto-atmosphere through its blanketing effect, which suppresses outgoing planetary radiation.
geology
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release
Early Earth’s First Crust Composition Discovery Rewrites Geological Timeline
Researchers have made a new discovery that changes our understanding of Earth’s early geological history, challenging beliefs about how our continents formed and when plate tectonics began.
Posted inAstrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
Compositional Outcomes Of Earth Formation From A Narrow Ring
We address Earth formation from an elemental perspective, using a method similar to Rubie et al. (2015) but with updates from Dale et al. (2023) to simulate the chemical evolution […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Are Volcanoes Behind The Oxygen We Breathe?
It is widely believed that Earth’s atmosphere has been rich in oxygen for about 2.5 billion years due to a relatively rapid increase in microorganisms capable of performing photosynthesis. Researchers, […]
Posted inArctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The Neoproterozoic Glacial Broom
Neoproterozoic snowball Earth events reflect globally frigid conditions thought to have stimulated changes in geochemical cycling with planetary biotic response. We investigated the impact of these events on sediment dynamics, […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Enceladus, Icy Worlds, Saturn, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Enceladus’s Tidal Heating
Saturn raises a time-dependent tide on its small moon Enceladus, due to the eccentricity of the orbit. As shown in a companion paper (Goldreich et al.), the resulting tidal heating […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Europa, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Press Release
Can Surface Fractures on Earth, Mars, and Europa Predict Habitability On Other Planets?
When a mudflat crumbles on Earth, or an ice sheet splinters on one of Jupiter’s moons (Europa), or an ancient lakebed breaks on Mars, do these fractures follow a hidden […]
Posted inMars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return
The Chances Of Anything Coming From Mars
Within the next decade, space agencies plan to bring samples of rock from Mars to Earth for study. Of concern is the possibility these samples contain life, which could have […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release
Have We Been Wrong About Why Mars Is Red?
The Red Planet’s iconic rusty dust has a much wetter history than previously assumed, find scientists combining European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA spacecraft data with new laboratory experiments on […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Tricorders & Sensors
New Ways To Use Droid Tools That Are Already On Mars
The Perseverance team is always looking for creative ways to use the tools we have on Mars to maximize the science we do. On the arm of the rover sits […]