What if There’s an Earth-Like Planet at One of Our Closest Stars?

Just over four light-years away, our Solar System’s closest neighboring stars can be found. There’s red dwarf Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.2 light-years; and, just a little farther, at 4.37 light-years, a binary system of Sun-like stars – Alpha Centauri AB.   We don’t yet know if there are any Earth-like worlds orbiting … Read more

Mars’ atmosphere: Facts about the composition and climate

Mars’ atmosphere is over 100 times thinner than Earth’s and is primarily composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon gases. Oxygized dust particles kicked up from the Martian surface fill the atmosphere turning Mars’ skies a rusty tan color, according to NASA.  Water exists on Mars but the atmosphere is too thin for it to … Read more

Gut Microbes Can Cause Obesity, And We’re Getting Closer to Understanding How

Medical researchers have discovered a molecule linking the tiny creatures that call our guts home to levels of fat in our bodies. “We now have a molecular mechanism that provides a starting point to understand our microbiome as a link between our diet and our body composition,” explained Emory University biochemist Dean Jones.   Hints … Read more

Earth’s Water Was in The Solar System Before Earth Itself, Meteorite Reveals

We don’t know how life emerged on Earth, but one thing is certain: life as we know it on our planet wouldn’t exist without the water that wraps around the surface, runs in rivulets, and falls from the sky.   Our planet is the only one known to have life, and the only one on … Read more

We Finally Have The First-Ever Analysis of Stardust Retrieved From The Ryugu Asteroid

It’s been over a year since the Hayabusa2 probe delivered its precious cargo of dust from an alien space rock, and we’re finally getting a more detailed glimpse of what makes up asteroid Ryugu.   In two papers published today, international teams of scientists have revealed that, in accordance with analyses conducted by the probe … Read more