University of Michigan Archives

Joint constraints on the H2/He abundance and the atmospheric pressure on TRAPPIST-1 b resulting from the sequential fit of the stellar contamination and planetary atmosphere. The color shading illustrates the posterior probability density, where darker colors correspond to higher probabilities. Contours indicate the 1σ, 2σ, and 3σ Bayesian credible regions. The displayed posterior probability is marginalized over the H2O, CH4, CO, CO2, NH3, and N2 abundances. Hydrogen-dominated scenarios with high-altitude clouds are at the top left corner of the plot and cloud-free, volatile-rich, high-mean-molecular-mass atmospheres are at the bottom right. Any hydrogen-rich atmospheres without high-altitude clouds, at the bottom left, are robustly ruled out. The second horizontal axis at the top shows the mean molecular mass representative for a pure H2/H2O atmosphere. -- The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release

JWST’s First Spectrum Of TRAPPIST-1 b

by Keith CowingMay 18, 2024May 18, 2024

In a solar system called TRAPPIST-1, 40 light years from the sun, seven Earth-sized planets revolve around a cold star.

Strelitzia is a genus of five species of perennial plants, native to South Africa. It belongs to the plant family Strelitziaceae. A common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower/plant, because of a resemblance of its flowers to birds-of-paradise. In South Africa, it is commonly known as a crane flower. -- Wikipedia

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Away Teams & Field Reports, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

Earth Life Biodiversity: Vast DNA Tree Of life For Flowering Plants Revealed

by Keith CowingApril 25, 2024April 25, 2024

The most up-to-date understanding of the flowering plant tree of life is presented in a new study published today in the journal Nature by an international team of 279 scientists, […]

This artist’s impression shows the formation of a gas giant planet embedded in the disk of dust and gas in the ring of dust around a young star. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

First Search For Forming Planets With James Webb Space Telescope

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2024March 27, 2024

Planets form in disks of dust and gas called protoplanetary disks that whirl around a central protostar during its final assembly.

Conceptual and geographic layout of the study system. Space weather from the sun, such as coronal mass ejections, disturb Earth’s magnetic field, causing the auroras and potentially decreasing the magnetic field’s reliability for migrating birds. Artwork by John Megahan, University of Michigan, from Gulson-Castillo et al. in PNAS, October 2023.

Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics

Space Weather From Our Local Star Disrupts Nocturnal Bird Migration On Earth

by Keith CowingOctober 10, 2023October 9, 2023

It’s well-known that birds and other animals rely on Earth’s magnetic field for long-distance navigation during seasonal migrations.

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1

JWST’s First Spectrum Of A TRAPPIST-1 Planet

by Keith CowingOctober 8, 2023October 8, 2023

In a solar system called TRAPPIST-1, 40 light years from the sun, seven Earth-sized planets revolve around a cold star.

Artist impression of a young planet-forming disk illustrating the respective locations of the soot and water-ice lines. Planets born interior to the soot line will be silicate-rich. Planets born interior to the water-ice line, but exterior to the soot line will be silicate and soot-rich (“Sooty Worlds”). Planets born exterior to the water-ice line will be water worlds. Image credit: Ari Gea/SayoStudio.

Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release

The Search For Habitable Planets Expands

by Keith CowingMay 26, 2023May 26, 2023

A University of Michigan astronomer and his team are suggesting a new way to expand the search for habitable planets that takes into account a zone not previously considered: the […]

Extinction events, Impact events, Press Release

Simulation Of The Global Impact Of the Dinosaur-Killing Chicxulub Asteroid Impact Event

by Keith CowingOctober 5, 2022October 5, 2022

The miles-wide asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago wiped out nearly all the dinosaurs and roughly three-quarters of the planet’s plant and animal species.

Astrochemistry

Carbon's Interstellar Journey To Earth

by Keith CowingApril 6, 2021

We are made of stardust, the saying goes, and a pair of studies including University of Michigan research finds that may be more true than we previously thought. The first […]

Impact events, Press Release

Dinosaurs Done In By An Impact Event and volcanoes

by Keith CowingJuly 6, 2016

A new reconstruction of Antarctic ocean temperatures around the time the dinosaurs disappeared 66 million years ago supports the idea that one of the planet’s biggest mass extinctions was due […]

Erik Fischer, AERO PhD Student and AOSS Researcher, sets up a Mars Atmospheric Chamber in the Space Research Building on June 18, 2014. -- Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Tricorders & Sensors

Martian Salts Must Touch Ice to Make Liquid Water, Study Shows

by Keith CowingJuly 3, 2014April 13, 2024

In chambers that mimic Mars’ conditions, University of Michigan researchers have shown how small amounts of liquid water could form on the planet despite its below-freezing temperatures.