NASA’s Parker Solar Probe team wins 2024 Collier Trophy
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In honor of Global Astronomy Month, we’re exploring the science of space. Learn how astronomy connects us through curiosity, discovery, and a shared wonder for what lies beyond.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 31-Jul-2025 14:11 ET (31-Jul-2025 18:11 GMT/UTC)
The South Atlantic Anomaly represents a region within near-Earth space characterized by a significantly weaker geomagnetic field and a higher flux of energetic particles compared to other areas. It is a space weather hazards to Low-Earth-Orbit satellites. There has been evidence that the Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves from the powerful ground VLF radio transmitter in Australia, known as NWC, have the capacity to scatter energetic electrons’ pitch angle in the inner radiation belt. In a paper published in Science China: Earth Sciences, scientists report the initial observation of a 'wisp' precipitation resulted from NWC, an unusual occurrence with peak intensity detected inside the SAA. With the full pitch angle distribution observed via the Macao Science Satellite – 1 at Low-Earth-Orbit, scientists attribute the 'wisp' within the anomaly to a specific pitch angle range just outside the drift loss cone.
Imagine the world’s oceans with their beautiful blue color. Now, imagine that the same oceans were green. This is the intriguing possibility suggested by new research from Nagoya University in Japan. A research group has found evidence that cyanobacteria, important bacteria in the evolutionary process, flourished in green seas. Their findings not only tell us about the history of our planet but also suggest a new way to look for alien life on other planets.
The longest organic molecules identified to date on Mars have recently been detected by scientists from the CNRS1, together with their colleagues from France, the United States of America, Mexico and Spain. These long carbon chains, containing up to 12 consecutive carbon atoms, could exhibit features similar to the fatty acids produced on Earth by biological activity2. The lack of geological activity and the cold, arid climate on Mars have helped preserve this invaluable organic matter in a clay-rich sample for the past 3.7 billion years. It therefore dates from the period during which life first emerged on Earth. These findings are due to be published on March 24th 2025 in the journal PNAS.
If ancient life was once present on Mars, its signatures could be preserved in rocks for billions of years, according to a study.