The University of Tokyo Archives

Cloud discontinuity observed on the Venusian nightside lower clouds at a wavelength of 2.26 μm by Akatsuki IR2. Clouds appear as silhouettes illuminated from below, with dark areas indicating thicker clouds. The images were taken at (a) 15:33-UTC on August 18 and (b) 22:03-UTC on 27 August 2016. -- Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, Venus

Venus’ Atmosphere Jumps And Waves

by Keith CowingMay 10, 2026May 10, 2026

The mysterious origin of an impressive cloud disturbance on Venus has now been revealed by a team including the University of Tokyo. Researchers used numerical models to show that an […]

The thermal impact of dust storms on Mars is significant, and is thought to play a similar role to that of water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere. Credit: NASA

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Mars, Press Release

How’s The Weather On Mars?

by Keith CowingMarch 7, 2025

A new study by researchers including those at the University of Tokyo revealed that atmospheric gravity waves play a crucial role in driving latitudinal air currents on Mars, particularly at […]

Photographs of a nontronite-bearing fracture in the thin section from the rock core interior (a–c) with increasing magnification. Intensity maps of optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectra in a region highlighted with a yellow square in Fig. 2c at 1000 cm−1 (d) and 1530 cm−1(e). O-PTIR spectra from duplicate analyses of pink points in Fig.. 2(c)–(e), co-cultured cells of Nanoarchaeota strain MJ1 and Metallosphaera sp. strain MJ1HA (JCM33617) and cultured cells of Escherichia coli (NBRC13168) and LR White resin (f). Peak assignment was based on Movasaghi et al. (Reference Movasaghi, Rehman and Rehman2008) and Ellerbrock et al. (Reference Ellerbrock, Stein and Schaller2022) and references therein.-- The University of Tokyo

Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

The Chances Of Anything Coming From Mars

by Keith CowingMarch 6, 2025

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 […]

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

The Thermodynamics Of Life Taking Shape

by Keith CowingSeptember 12, 2022September 12, 2022

Revealing the scientific laws that govern our world is often considered the ‘holy grail’ by scientists, as such discoveries have wide-ranging implications. In an exciting development from Japan, scientists have […]