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- 1Icy moons may keep hidden oceans even after collisionsโผIcy moons may hold on to their underground oceans even after being smashed apart
New research suggests icy moons in the outer solar system could retain their subsurface oceans even if they are shattered by large impacts, with fragments potentially holding on to liquid water. The finding has implications for the search for life, as it widens the range of places where habitable conditions might survive dramatic collisions and reassembling events over billions of years.
- 2Astronomers detect first direct radio signal from exoplanetโReseachers detect a direct radio signal from planet beyond solar system for the first time
Researchers have detected a direct radio signal from a planet outside the solar system for the first time. The detection, reported by media outlets, marks a milestone in the search for planets around other stars, as radio emissions from exoplanets had previously only been theorized. Scientists say such signals could offer a new way to study magnetic fields and habitability of distant worlds.
- 3Mercury Is Shrinking Faster Than Scientists ExpectedโMercury is shrinking faster than anyone thought
New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previous estimates suggested. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to wrinkle and fault. The updated findings are drawing attention from scientists and space enthusiasts, prompting discussion about what the faster contraction reveals about the planet's interior and its ongoing geological evolution.
- 4Harvard Scientists Detect Radio Signal From ExoplanetโHarvard Scientists Detect Radio Signal Coming Directly From Planet Outside the Solar System
Researchers at Harvard report detecting a radio signal coming directly from a planet outside our solar system. The finding, covered by Futurism, is drawing attention because radio emissions from an exoplanet could indicate a magnetic field or, more speculatively, a technological source. Scientists caution that natural processes are the more likely explanation, and further observations will be needed to confirm the signal's origin.
- 5Solar Storms Pose Growing Threat to Power GridsโDisasters from the Sun: Threats to Power-grids and Digital Infrastructure
An analysis published by the Observer Research Foundation examines how solar activity can trigger disasters on Earth, warning that solar storms threaten power grids and digital infrastructure. The piece highlights the vulnerability of modern electricity networks and communications systems to severe space weather events, and the potential scale of disruption if a major storm were to hit.