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Posts by
Paul Scott Anderson
Mystery green blob appears and disappears in distant galaxy
What is ULX-4 - a mystery green blob of X-ray light that appeared in the Fireworks Galaxy - and then soon disappeared again? A black hole or neutron star are 2 possibilities.
September 16, 2019
Is K2-18b really a habitable super-Earth?
It was exciting last week when scientists announced water vapor in a super-Earth's atmosphere. But, even as the announcement came, other scientists were cautioning that the planet - K2-18b - is probably less like a super-Earth and more like a mini-Neptune.
September 15, 2019
Scientists find water vapor in a super-Earth’s atmosphere
It's a first-ever detection of water vapor in a super-Earth's atmosphere, orbiting in the habitable zone of its star, 110 light-years away. The discovery supports the possibility that our galaxy contains many such habitable worlds.
September 11, 2019
What has China’s rover found on the moon’s far side?
Chinese media have reported that the Yutu-2 rover has discovered a "gel-like" substance in a crater on the far side of the moon. It sounds intriguing, but details are still scarce.
September 10, 2019
Have astronomers found a hyper-volcanic exomoon?
Astronomers have found evidence for a possible exomoon orbiting a gas giant planet 550 light-years away. If they're interpreting the evidence correctly, this moon would be a place of destruction, even more volcanically active than Jupiter's famous volcanic moon, Io.
September 6, 2019
Could microbes be affecting Venus’ climate?
Unusual dark patches in Venus' atmosphere - called "unknown absorbers" - play a key role in the planet's climate and albedo, according to a new study. But what are they? That's still a mystery.
September 3, 2019
Will the Webb telescope be able to detect life signs at nearby exoplanets?
The Webb Telescope is Hubble's successor, due to launch in 2021. A new study says it'll be powerful enough to search for life signatures in the atmospheres of the 7 Earth-sized planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, just 39 light-years away.
September 2, 2019
Why does Mars’ methane vary across a single Martian day?
Previous studies showed that methane in Mars' atmosphere varies across the Martian seasons. New research shows daily fluctuations. It's fascinating because, on Earth, methane gas is tied to microbial life.
August 31, 2019
Wow! What if 1 in 4 sunlike stars has an Earth?
According to a new study by astronomers based on data from the Kepler Space Telescope, 1 in 4 sunlike stars should have a planet that's approximately Earth-sized, orbiting in the star's habitable zone.
August 23, 2019
Where does Mars’ methane come from? Not wind
On Earth, methane gas is often associated with microbial life. Scientists find methane in Mars' atmosphere, too. Could it be life-related? We still don't know, but a new study shows wind erosion is likely not the cause.
August 20, 2019
