British scientists have launched a crew of microscopic worms to the International Space Station in a pioneering experiment that could help unlock the secrets of long-duration space travel – and […]
University of Leicester
Posted inGravitational Biology, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations
Worms In Space Experiment Aims To Investigate The Biological Effects Of Spaceflight
A crew of tiny worms will be heading on a mission to the International Space Station in 2026 that will help scientists understand how humans can travel through space safely, […]
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors
Planetary Protection: Technology For Ultra-clean Mini-lab To Contain Extraterrestrial Samples
Work has begun to design and build a Double-Walled Isolator (DWI), akin to an ultra-clean miniature laboratory to safely store and analyse extra-terrestrial materials, such as the first material from […]
Posted inAriel Mission, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics
Proposed Space Missions To Explore Stellar Influence On Habitable Worlds
How the Sun influences the atmosphere, space weather and habitability of a planet, as well as the space between the stars, could be investigated by two proposed UK space missions, […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Ice Giant, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Neptune, Press Release, Uranus
Calibrating Instruments For Exoplanets: What Neptune And Uranus Really Look Like
Neptune is fondly known for being a rich blue and Uranus green – but a new study has revealed that the two ice giants are actually far closer in colour […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release
Bizarre New Fossils Shed Light On Ancient Plankton
A scientist from the University of Leicester has discovered a new type of fossil that reveals life in the oceans half a billion years ago.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Ancient Asteroid Grains Provide Insight Into The Evolution Of Our Solar System
The UK’s national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source, was used by a large, international collaboration to study grains collected from a near-Earth asteroid to further our understanding of the evolution […]
Posted inEuropa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Sharpest Earth-based Images Of Europa and Ganymede Reveal Their Icy Landscapes
The cocktail of chemicals that make up the frozen surfaces on two of Jupiter’s largest moons are revealed in the most detailed images ever taken of them by a telescope […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Explaining The Increasing Temperature Of Cooling Granular Gases
A Leicester mathematician has developed a theory to explain ‘heating by cooling’, where the temperature of a granular gas increases while the total energy drops down – a peculiar phenomenon […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Mars, Press Release
Yorkshire Salt Mine Could Help Shed Light on Martian Life
A PhD student from the University of Leicester is helping to shed light on life on Mars by exploring similar environments on Earth — including an underground salt mine in […]