compiled by Arlene & David Kaplan

James Webb Space Telescope uncovers origins of distant planet A team of astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to establish how a distant planet was formed. The University of Leicester team formed part of a Nasa-coordinated study based on observations from the new telescope…more

New minerals discovered in massive meteorite may reveal clues to asteroid formation A team of researchers has discovered at least two new minerals that have never before been seen on Earth in a 15 tonne meteorite found in Somalia — the ninth largest meteorite ever found. The two minerals found came from a single 70 gram slice that was sent to the U of A…more

Life on Mars? Australian rocks may hold clues for Nasa rover Rocks in the Australian Outback dating back 3.5 billion years may help scientists work out whether there has ever been life on Mars. Researchers studying the Australian rocks say only ancient microbes could have shaped them the way they are…more

Water on the Moon could sustain a lunar base Having dropped tantalising hints days ago about an “exciting new discovery about the Moon“, the US space agency has revealed conclusive evidence of water on our only natural satellite. This “unambiguous detection of molecular water” will boost Nasa’s hopes of establishing a lunar base…more

The Ethiopian scientist on the search for water on the moon Without water there can be no life. Whether humans are on the Earth or elsewhere in the universe, that axiom remains the same. Nasa’s Artemis 1 rocket was finally launched this week – the start of an ambitious space exploration programme that is designed to take humans back to the moon and beyond…more

Requiem for a Telescope When the giant Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed in December 2020, it punched a hole in astronomy. For half a century Arecibo was the mightiest telescope on the planet. One thousand feet wide, it listened to radio signals from the stars — as well as from pulsars, planets, asteroids and more — for any hints of intelligent life…more

House-Hunting on Mars Has Already Started The neighborhood is a wild card, and moving there is bound to be expensive. But one of the best options for shelter when humans finally make it to the red planet will be subterranean caves. These rocky hollows, which exist in droves on both Earth and the moon, are natural buffers against the harsh conditions of Mars…more

‘Good Night Oppy’ Review: Life (Kind of) on Mars NASA’s Opportunity Rover landed on Mars in January 2004 and chugged along for more than 14 years before giving out. (In February 2019, NASA declared the mission over.) Opportunity’s anticipated time in service — a span that Steve Squyres, the principal investigator for the mission, is heard likening in “Good Night Oppy” to a warranty…more

NASA’s Webb Catches Fiery Hourglass as New Star Forms NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed the once-hidden features of the protostar within the dark cloud L1527, providing insight into the beginnings of a new star. These blazing clouds within the Taurus star-forming region are only visible in infrared light, making it an ideal target for Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam)…more

James Webb telescope’s ghostly ‘Pillars of Creation’ Why satisfy yourself with one course when you can have a double helping? The US space agency Nasa has issued a second image of the famous “Pillars of Creation” taken by the new super space telescope, James Webb. This week we get a rendering of the active star-forming region as seen by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)…more