Extraterrestrial

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) is collaborating with Indian space startup Vellon Space to advance extra-terrestrial manufacturing research and development.The collaboration marks a significant milestone in orbital ‘microgravity research’.Elevate Your Tech Prowess with High-Value Skill CoursesOffering CollegeCourseWebsiteIIM KozhikodeIIMK Advanced Data Science For ManagersVisitIIM LucknowIIML Executive Programme in FinTech, Banking & Applied Risk ManagementVisitMITMIT Technology Leadership and…

The Roman Space Telescope’s Coronagraph has cleared key tests, setting the stage for groundbreaking observations of exoplanets and aiding in the quest to find life beyond Earth. Credit: NASANASA’s Roman Space Telescope’s Coronagraph Instrument, designed to observe distant exoplanets by blocking stellar light, has passed essential tests, marking a significant advancement in space observation technology and the search for extraterrestrial life.A cutting-edge tool to view planets outside our solar system has passed two key…

 “Europa is my favorite body in the solar system,” Quick confesses. But she notes that other ocean worlds also offer promising places to look for signs of life. Those include Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn that, like Europa, has an icy crust with an ocean beneath. Images from the Cassini mission in 2005 revealed that geysers on the south pole of Enceladus spew water and organic molecules into space, feeding Saturn’s outermost ring.  However, Europa is bigger than Enceladus and is more likely to have a surface…

Of all the questions that remain unanswered, the question of life in the Universe is surely the one that captures our attention the most.In a Universe whose observable edge is 46 billion light years away, is it even conceivable that we are alone, the sole planet among the millions and perhaps billions that are out there, where life has evolved, an oasis of life in the cosmic ocean?In the search for alien civilizations, researchers have proposed that it may be possible to use bright galactic events like supernovae to act…

Meteorites, remnants of asteroids, are crucial for understanding our solar system’s history, acting as time capsules that preserve primordial material. Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Winchcombe meteorite, identifying key nitrogen compounds, including amino acids and hydrocarbons, without chemical treatments, using a novel detector design. This finding, significant for research into life’s origins on Earth, was facilitated by a high-resolution electron microscope at the SuperSTEM laboratory. This…

An international study reveals that certain organic compounds (PAHs) found in the Ryugu asteroid and Murchison meteorite likely originated in the cold areas of space. This finding, derived from controlled burns of plants and comparative analysis, challenges previous beliefs and offers new insights into the chemistry of celestial bodies and the potential for extraterrestrial life.The examination of organic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), obtained from the Ryugu asteroid and Murchison meteorite,…

Scientists at NASA believe that their Mars Perseverance Rover may have uncovered and even collected evidence of ancient life on Mars. Recent data obtained by the rover's RIMAX ground radar has confirmed that the Jezero crater was filled with water at some point…

In the quest to find life beyond Earth, researchers are now considering both biological and technological markers, with a new focus on the role of oxygen. A study by Adam Frank and Amedeo Balbi in Nature Astronomy emphasizes the importance of oxygen not only for life but also for the development of advanced technology. They propose that significant oxygen levels are crucial for the emergence of “technospheres,” advanced technological realms on other planets, and that targeting oxygen-rich planets should be a priority in…

Artist’s illustration of the extremely energetic cosmic ray observed by a surface detector array of the Telescope Array experiment, named “Amaterasu particle.” Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University/L-INSIGHT, Kyoto University/Ryuunosuke TakeshigeA groundbreaking detection of an extremely energetic cosmic ray by the Telescope Array experiment raises questions about its source, as it points to a cosmic void, challenging current theories in cosmic ray origins and high-energy physics.Discovery of an Exceptional…

In a groundbreaking study, NASA has unveiled a revelation that expands the search for extraterrestrial life. Researchers have identified 17 exoplanets positioned beyond our solar system that might boast subsurface oceans beneath their icy exteriors. The intriguing aspect lies in the possibility of periodic eruptions, resembling geysers, breaking through the frozen crusts of these distant worlds. Subsurface OceansThe research, conducted by scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, included a meticulous analysis of…