A team led by Southwest Research Institute has concluded that the surface of dwarf planet Ceres is rich in organic matter. Data from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft indicate that Ceres’ surface […]
SWRI
Posted inEnceladus, Press Release
Evidence of Complex Organic Molecules In Plumes From Enceladus
Using mass spectrometry data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, scientists found that large, carbon-rich organic molecules are ejected from cracks in the icy surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Southwest Research Institute […]
Posted inCeres, Press Release
The Origin of Organic Compounds on Ceres
Since NASA’s Dawn spacecraft detected localized organic-rich material on Ceres, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been digging into the data to explore different scenarios for its origin. After considering the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Study Shows How Radioactive Decay Could Support Extraterrestrial Life
In the icy bodies around our solar system, radiation emitted from rocky cores could break up water molecules and support hydrogen-eating microbes. To address this cosmic possibility, a University of […]
Posted inMars
Fresh water may flow just below the surface during Martian summers
Mysterious dark finger-like features on steep Martian slopes that lengthen downhill during the Red Planet’s warm season could be caused by flowing water, scientists at Southwest Research Institute and the […]