Topic
Planetary science
-
Nuno Loureiro: Probing the world of plasmas
Physicist explores the behavior of the universe’s most abundant form of matter.
October 15, 2018 -
Software finds the best way to stick a Mars landing
Program users can tinker with landing and path planning scenarios to identify optimal landing sites for Mars rovers.
September 26, 2018 -
How Earth sheds heat into space
New insights into the role of water vapor may help researchers predict how the planet will respond to warming.
September 24, 2018 -
Professor Emeritus Bernard Burke, astrophysics pioneer, dies at 90
Former Astrophysics Division chair discovered radio noise from Jupiter and the first Einstein Ring, and developed tools to map the universe.
September 24, 2018 -
An extinction without warning
Study finds end-Permian extinction, which wiped out most of Earth’s species, was instantaneous in geological time.
September 18, 2018 -
Timothy Grove awarded AGU's Harry H. Hess Medal
American Geophysical Union honors EAPS professor's “outstanding achievements in research on the constitution and evolution of the Earth and other planets.”
September 10, 2018 -
Julien de Wit and TRAPPIST-1 science team receive NASA award
Assistant professor in EAPS and colleagues from the University of Liège were honored for groundbreaking planetary system discovery.
September 6, 2018 -
3Q: A bold mission to touch the sun
MIT’s John Belcher discusses the launch of the Parker Solar Probe, which will fly directly into the sun’s atmosphere.
August 13, 2018 -
X-ray data may be first evidence of a star devouring a planet
New data may explain star’s mysterious dimming.
July 18, 2018 -
Study finds climate determines shapes of river basins
Results may help identify ancient climates on Earth or other planets.
July 17, 2018 -
Sound waves reveal diamond cache deep in Earth’s interior
Study finds 1–2 percent of Earth’s oldest mantle rocks are made from diamond.
July 16, 2018 -
Nearly 80 exoplanet candidates identified in record time
Search considered successful “dress rehearsal” for exoplanet hunter TESS.
June 20, 2018 -
3 Questions: Roger Summons on finding organic matter on Mars
Discovery adds to evidence suggesting that Mars was at one time habitable.
June 7, 2018 -
TESS takes initial test image
Exoplanet-seeking satellite developed by MIT swings by moon toward final orbit.
May 18, 2018 -
Ushering in the next phase of exoplanet discovery
Professor Sara Seager previews a new era of discovery as a leader of the TESS mission, which is expected to find some 20,000 extrasolar planets.
May 3, 2018 -
TESS readies for takeoff
Satellite developed by MIT aims to discover thousands of nearby exoplanets, including at least 50 Earth-sized ones.
April 12, 2018 -
Computer searches telescope data for evidence of distant planets
Machine-learning system uses physics principles to augment data from NASA crowdsourcing project.
March 29, 2018 -
Scientists find seismic imaging is blind to water
Findings may lead scientists to reinterpret seismic maps of the Earth's interior.
March 14, 2018 -
EAPS welcomes Heising-Simons fellow Ian Wong
The 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship provides junior scientists the opportunity to conduct theoretical, observational, and experimental research in planetary astronomy.
February 7, 2018 -
Citizen scientists discover five tightly packed exoplanets
The planetary system’s dense configuration gives clues to its formation
January 11, 2018