planetary science

A NASA-funded study finds that climate change is slowing Earth's rotation, lengthening the days. Melting ice and shifting water towards the equator redistribute mass on the planet, which alters its spin. The finding highlights how human-driven warming affects not only the climate but also fundamental planetary processes like the length of a day.

A new examination of planetary science argues that some worlds, possibly even planets in our own solar system, could be more habitable than Earth. The piece points to factors such as thicker atmospheres, warmer oceans and more stable climates that could make certain planets friendlier to life. Readers are debating how scientists define habitability and what this means in the search for life beyond our planet.

Japanese scientists are finalising plans for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, an unmanned probe that will travel to Mars' two moons and return samples to Earth. The project, carried out with US and European partners, aims to uncover clues about the origins of the solar system and possibly how life began on Earth. The mission is drawing attention as one of the most ambitious planetary science endeavours currently in preparation.

Researchers have identified a massive, previously unrecognized volcano on Mars, named Noctis Mons, hidden within the fractured terrain of the Noctis Labyrinthus region. The structure spans roughly 450 kilometers in diameter and rises about 9,000 meters, having gone undetected despite decades of orbital observation of the Red Planet. The discovery is drawing widespread attention among space enthusiasts and planetary scientists discussing how such a large feature was overlooked.

A planetary science policy piece outlines new metrics for research program evaluation, aimed at sustaining a healthy research community and enabling decadal-level science goals. It argues that better measurement of program outcomes can guide funding and prioritization in the field. Discussion so far appears limited to specialist circles in astrobiology and planetary science policy.

The CUNY Graduate Center is highlighting how artificial intelligence can be applied to environmental challenges in its 'Science Spotlight' series. The feature examines ways AI tools could support research and solutions for planetary problems, from climate monitoring to sustainability. Details beyond the announcement remain limited, and public reaction has so far been minimal.

The Planetary Society's Space Policy Edition explores the concept of "science as a service" and what it really means for space research and policy. The discussion examines how framing science as a service could change how space missions are funded, prioritised and delivered, and what that shift would mean for researchers and public agencies.

Astronomers report that a planet located about 320 light-years from Earth has provided confirmation of something scientists had long suspected. The observation is being circulated in science media, though the exact nature of the confirmed hypothesis is not detailed in the available coverage. Researchers say such distant exoplanet findings help refine theories of how planetary systems form and evolve.

NASA is drawing attention to an impact crater structure that has been nicknamed 'with legs', sparking curiosity among space and geology enthusiasts. The feature is being discussed as a striking example of how asteroid impacts leave distinctive geological formations, and the unusual name has helped the finding circulate widely in science news coverage.