Latest news with #Earth-based
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Three massive asteroids hidden in Venus' shadow could hit Earth with force a million times greater than Hiroshima bomb
Asteroids carrying energy over a million times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb could be on a potential collision course with Earth, warn scientists from Brazil, France, and Italy. According to a new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, three massive asteroids—identified as 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1—have been hiding in a blind spot behind Venus, shielded from Earth-based telescopes by the Sun's intense glare. These so-called 'Venus co-orbitals' are now being monitored closely due to their alarming proximity to Earth's orbit. City-Killer Threats Hiding in the Shadows These asteroids, ranging in diameter from 330 to 1,300 feet, are large enough to wipe out entire cities if they were to impact Earth. Scientists estimate that an impact would create a crater over two miles wide, triggering catastrophic firestorms and tsunamis. The energy released could be more than a million times that of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Unlike most near-Earth objects, these asteroids don't follow stable trajectories. Researchers warn that even minor gravitational changes—from a passing planet or another asteroid—could alter their paths, sending them hurtling toward Earth. Minimal Distance, Maximum Risk The three asteroids raise particular concern because of their Minimal Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) — the closest point between their orbit and Earth's. All three have MOIDs of less than 0.0005 astronomical units (AU), putting them closer to Earth than the Moon at certain points in their orbit. Live Events "Their orbits sync with Venus, but that doesn't protect us. These objects can still intersect with Earth's path and potentially collide," said lead researcher Valerio Carruba from São Paulo State University. Currently, 20 Venus co-orbital asteroids are known, but researchers believe many more remain hidden due to their location in Earth's observational blind spot. A Call for Vigilance — and Action While Earth-based telescopes like the upcoming Rubin Observatory in Chile might detect such asteroids, the reaction window is dangerously narrow—possibly just two to four weeks between detection and impact. To improve early detection, scientists suggest deploying a dedicated space probe near Venus, capable of scanning the region currently invisible to telescopes on Earth. "We need to map these hidden threats before it's too late," the researchers concluded. Should We Be Worried? Given their size, energy potential, and unpredictable orbits, these asteroids are not just theoretical threats. They are real and largely untracked hazards—cosmic wildcards that could, under the right conditions, strike Earth with devastating consequences. For now, scientists continue to track them closely—but the study highlights an urgent need for better detection systems that go beyond Earth's line of sight.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Why China's upcoming Tianwen-2 mission is significant
China will launch its first mission to survey and sample a near-Earth asteroid this week. Known as the Tianwen-2 mission, the probe will investigate an asteroid called 469219 Kamo'oalewa, which orbits the Sun at a distance relatively close to Earth. If successful, the mission will place China in a group of a handful of countries — including the United States and Japan — which have been able to sample asteroids and return the samples to Earth successfully. 'This is an ambitious mission to explore a fascinating object,' astrophysicist Amy Mainzer of the University of California, Los Angeles, told the journal Science. Here is a look at the mission, the Kamo'oalewa asteroid, and why China wants to investigate it. Kamo'oalewa was discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope on Haleakalā in Hawaii. It is one of just seven asteroids that fall into a little-understood class known as quasi-satellites of Earth — satellites that orbit the Sun, but because of their close distance to Earth, they are gravitationally influenced by the planet. The asteroid 'travels in a highly elliptical solar orbit and appears to Earth-bound observers to be alternately leading and trailing Earth in its more circular orbit. This gives the impression the asteroid orbits Earth,' according to a report in Science. Quasi-satellites are known to shift their orbits over time. For instance, Kamo'oalewa has been in its current orbit for around 100 years, and is expected to remain there for the next 300 years. Kamo'oalewa has garnered attention due to its unusual orbit and unknown origin. Scientists believe that exploring this asteroid would help them find clues about how quasi-satellites came to be, and how their orbits evolved over time. Moreover, some researchers suggest that Kamo'oalewa could be the first known asteroid composed of lunar material. In 2021, University of Arizona planetary scientist Benjamin Sharkey and colleagues wrote in the journal Communications Earth & Environment that Kamo'oalewa might have been ejected from the Moon's surface due to a collision with some other astronomical object. They said so because the telescope that they used to investigate Kamo'oalewa picked up a usual spectrum, or pattern of reflected light, that suggested Kamo'oalewa is composed of silicates resembling those found in Apollo lunar samples. The exploration of the asteroid could settle the hypothesis that the Moon was formed as a result of a collision between the Earth and another small planet. (Kamo'oalewa could be a small remnant of that collision). 'Observations and the ejecta models do not yet prove it…[the samples in an Earth-based lab could] settle the question [of origin] definitively,' Mainzer said. To collect the samples from Kamo'oalewa, the Tianwen-2 mission will use a 'touch-and-go' technique which has been successfully implemented by the United States' OSIRIS-Rex and Japan's Hayabusa2 missions. In this technique, the spacecraft hovers close to the surface of the asteroid while a robotic arm fires an object or burst of gas to knock fragments into a collection chamber. Depending on the surface conditions, the Tianwen-2 probe might also use a second 'anchor and attach' technique. In this, four robotic arms extend and drill into the surface to retrieve material. After collecting the samples, the mission will drop them on Earth. The probe will then head towards the main asteroid belt for another mission. Experts, however, suggest that collecting samples from Kamo'oalewa will be a challenging task for Tainwen-2. The issue is that unlike previously explored asteroids, Kamo'oalewa is quite small. It measures just 40 to 100 metres in diameter. As a result, the mission would need highly sophisticated cameras, spacecraft computers, and reaction control systems.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Bizarre softball-sized 'mushballs' explain missing gas on Jupiter
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The weather forecast for Jupiter now includes softball-size hailstones, known as "mushballs," that are brewed by violent thunderstorms raging in the planet's turbulent atmosphere, a new study finds. The findings confirm these bizarre, ammonia-rich mushballs are also the source of Jupiter's missing ammonia. The absence of this gas in pockets of Jupiter's atmosphere has perplexed scientists for years. Decades ago, astronomers spotted intensely turbulent cloud tops in telescope images of the gas giant. The discovery led scientists to conclude that Jupiter's atmosphere churns and mixes constantly, like a pot of boiling water. Yet recent data from Earth-based radio telescopes and NASA's Juno spacecraft revealed deep pockets of missing ammonia — reaching 90 miles (150 kilometers) deep across all latitudes. This depletion is so significant in the planet's atmosphere that no known mechanism could explain it. Now, the new study's analysis of the aftermath of a massive 2017 storm observed by Juno offers compelling evidence that Jupiter's raging storms are the key to this atmospheric puzzle. The findings also reveal that even localized storms can strip ammonia from the planet's upper atmosphere and plunge it unexpectedly deep, indicating that the long-held vision of a thoroughly mixed atmosphere swirling around Jupiter is an illusion. "The top of the atmosphere is actually a pretty poor representation of what the whole planet looks like," study lead author Chris Moeckel, a researcher in the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, told Live Science. "As time goes by, we have to dig deeper and deeper into the atmosphere to find the place where it appears well-mixed." Moeckel and his colleagues described their findings in a study published March 28 in the journal Science Advances. Because of the dense cloud cover blanketing Jupiter, scientists cannot directly observe what lies beneath the planet's turbulent cloud tops. The role of ammonia is like a splash of color in a flowing stream of water, Moeckel said: It acts as a tracer, revealing otherwise-invisible patterns and processes deep within Jupiter's atmosphere. To explain the missing ammonia in Jupiter's atmosphere, in 2020 scientists theorized that the planet's violent storms generate strong updrafts that rapidly lift ammonia-rich ice particles to high altitudes, where they combine with water ice into a slushy liquid. Much like Earth's hailstones, Jovian mushballs grow by accumulating ice layers as storm currents repeatedly cycle them, eventually reaching softball size and falling deep into Jupiter's atmosphere, far below their origin. This process, the theory posited, left upper regions depleted of ammonia and water that Juno and ground-based telescopes detected. A distinct signature within the radio observations beamed back by Juno confirmed that this exotic process is indeed occurring, the new study found. During its February 2017 flyby, the spacecraft passed over an active storm region, and its instruments showed a higher concentration of both ammonia and water nestled beneath the storm cloud. "I was actually sitting at the dentist's office waiting and I was playing with the code," Moeckel said. "All of a sudden I saw a signal much deeper at the same location as the storm clouds were at the top, and I remember being like 'Huh,' I didn't expect anything down here." The peculiar signal, which persisted even a month after the storm began, could only be explained by either a drop in temperature consistent with melting ice or an increase in ammonia concentration, which would occur if the ammonia within the mushballs was being released as they melted. RELATED STORIES —Powerful solar winds squish Jupiter's magnetic field 'like a giant squash ball' —NASA solves 44-year-old mystery of why Jupiter's Io is so volcanically active —Jupiter's Great Red Spot is being squeezed, Hubble Telescope finds — and nobody knows why "Both theories led me to the same conclusion — the only known mechanism was these mushballs," Moeckel said. "That's the moment I conceded." The researchers suspect Jupiter is unlikely to be unique in this regard, as gases such as ammonia are swept into forming planets and are likely circulating in the atmospheres of hydrated gas giants both within our solar system and beyond. "I won't be surprised if this is happening throughout the universe," Moeckel said.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Elevators could soon take astronauts to the moon, study reveals
A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Cambridge and Columbia University proposes a futuristic but feasible method for lunar travel : space elevators . Rather than relying on expensive, fuel-hungry rockets, this new approach envisions a thin, ultra-strong cable stretching from the moon to Earth's orbit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This "spaceline" could dramatically reduce mission costs and energy consumption, potentially making travel to the moon as routine as launching satellites today. Using existing materials like carbon-based polymers, scientists believe such an elevator could become operational within decades, revolutionizing the way humans explore space. How the lunar elevator would work Unlike a traditional Earth-based space elevator, which would require materials that don't yet exist, the moon-based design minimizes gravitational tension. Anchored on the moon and extending to Earth's geostationary orbit, the cable would let spacecraft dock and move along it without heavy fuel. Lower costs, higher access Launching payloads via the spaceline could reduce fuel needs by up to two-thirds, slashing the cost of space missions. This would make frequent lunar expeditions, scientific missions, and commercial projects far more feasible. Lower operational costs could encourage international cooperation and even private investment in lunar exploration. The elevator might serve as a long-term, reusable asset rather than a one-time rocket launch. The Lagrange point advantage The elevator would pass through the Earth-moon Lagrange point, a stable gravity-neutral zone ideal for space infrastructure. Scientists view it as the perfect site for building orbital labs, telescopes, and staging grounds for interplanetary missions. Its unique environment reduces collision risks with debris and enables long-term maintenance of sensitive scientific instruments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A gateway to permanent space presence If built, the spaceline could enable a sustainable human presence in space by simplifying travel between Earth, the moon, and key orbital locations. Lunar bases, research stations, and space factories could all become part of daily operations. It marks a shift from one-off moon landings to a long-term presence beyond Earth, paving the way for humanity's deeper reach into the solar system.
Economic Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Can microbes survive in space? This study answers the question
Scientists have discovered a new microbe species aboard China's Tiangong space station. Named Niallia tiangongensis, this strain shows unique adaptations to space. The discovery, made during the Shenzhou 15 mission, offers insight into how microbes survive in orbit and may help protect astronauts on long-term space missions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Microbe Found Scientific Analysis Traits of New Strain Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Study FAQs A new species of microbe has been found on the Chinese Tiangong space station . Scientists analyzed samples from the station and identified a strain not seen before. The discovery was confirmed in a scientific strain, Niallia tiangongensis , was discovered in samples collected during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission. This mission returned to Earth in June 2023. The samples were taken from surfaces inside Tiangong. Scientists later studied these samples in laboratories on confirmed that the microbe is a new strain using different methods. They used morphological observation, genome sequencing and metabolic profiling. These methods showed that the strain belongs to the genus Niallia and the family Cytobacillaceae. The microbe is related to another strain found on Earth. That strain exists in soil and waste. It can infect people with weak immune new strain has several traits that are different from its Earth-based relatives. It shows a stronger oxidative stress response. It also forms a biofilm that helps it repair radiation damage. These traits help the microbe survive in space. The differences come from changes in two types of proteins in the microbe. Scientists believe these traits are adaptations to astronauts collect microbe samples from different areas inside Tiangong. These areas include air vents, surfaces and water dispensers. Monitoring microbes helps protect astronauts and keep the space station working well. This regular monitoring helped researchers discover the new study was done by scientists from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering. The findings were published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology in March discovery helps scientists understand how microbes adapt in space and how to protect astronauts during long was identified using morphological studies, genome sequencing and metabolic profiling from samples taken aboard the Tiangong station.
