Space

Dr Frank Postberg hopes that research on Jupiter's moon Europa yields similar results to those from Enceladus. Image credit - Frank Postberg

29 June 2018

Ingredients for life on Saturn’s moon may be ‘tip of the iceberg’

There are likely to be many more ingredients for life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus than those identified so far, says Dr Frank Postberg from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, the lead author of a paper published on 27 June which revealed the presence of complex carbon-based molecules in the moon's core. He says a fresh mission could reveal a ‘rich zoo’ of such organic molecules and provide solid proof of life beyond Earth.

space

28 May 2018

Microsatellite swarms could paint clearer picture of our planet

Tiny, low-cost satellites that can work together to boost their output and a technology that reduces the loss of satellite data are two of the latest innovations to hit the Earth observation market – and the results promise to reveal a more detailed image of our planet.

space | environment

16 May 2018

Supercomputers and space-based laser to help predict extreme weather events

From droughts and forest fires to floods and big freezes, extreme weather events are on the rise. But to what extent are these linked to climate change? Just months before the world’s first wind monitoring satellite enters orbit, scientists have finalised a climate model with exceptional resolution, and the new tools will help identify how climate change impacts weather-related natural disasters like storm surges, hurricanes and heatwaves.

space | interview

03 May 2018

'I opened a bottle with Stephen Hawking to celebrate our eureka moment' – Prof. Thomas Hertog

A theory developed with the late Professor Stephen Hawking stating that the universe is more simple and uniform than current models suggest was so shocking that it had to be sat on for a while before it was released to the world, according to co-author Professor Thomas Hertog from KU Leuven in Belgium.

The Square Kilometre Array, which is depicted through an artist's impression, will begin construction in 2020. Image credit - SKA Organisation

space

19 April 2018

SKA 'time machine' will be able to detect formation of first stars, galaxies

The world’s largest radio telescope, known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and situated over two continents, will be able to detect the first stars and galaxies emerging from the ‘murk’ at the beginning of the universe and much more besides, according to Professor Phil Diamond, Director General of SKA.He spoke to Horizon at the opening of the Shared Sky art exhibition in Brussels, Belgium on 16 April, where indigenous artists from SKA host nations South Africa and Australia use traditional painting and folk art to explore the themes of astronomy, spirituality and a borderless sky.

Bacteria survive in the harsh conditions of the Andean lakes of Argentina among high concentrations of arsenic. Image credit – ASLIFE project

environment | space

23 January 2018

Arsenic and permafrost microbes help hunt for life on Mars

Studying environments that are similar to Mars, and their microbial ecosystems, could help prepare biologists to identify traces of life in outer space.

space

09 January 2018

Sun like it hot

Few would be surprised to learn that the sun is very, very hot. At its surface, the temperature is several thousand degrees Celsius.

We asked a selection of European scientists which scientific breakthroughs they'd like to see in 2018. Image credits from left to right: Atrial myxoma edge low mag by Nephron is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, Maddieee/ Pixabay, NASA/ESA

space | health | transport

02 January 2018

Expect exoplanet atmospheres, organs with new functions and fewer traffic jams in 2018

The search for alien life with next-generation telescopes, a self-healing heart capable of restarting itself, and safer roads with smarter cars are expected to feature as the some of the key scientific breakthroughs in the coming year.

Dr Lucile Turc says that predicting solar storms would help us protect equipment and astronauts. Image credit - Dr Lucile Turc

interview | space

15 November 2017

Refined space weather forecasts could predict impact at local level - Dr Lucile Turc

Understanding more about how solar storms interact with the outermost part of Earth's environment, known as the foreshock, could refine space weather forecasts to predict their effects at a local level and help protect vital technology, according to Dr Lucile Turc, a space physicist at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Scientists have confirmed that gold and platinum are formed in neutron star collisions. Image credit – NSF/LIGO/Sonoma State University/Aurore Simonnet

space

16 October 2017

Neutron star collision gives rise to ‘multi-messenger’ astronomy

Astronomers have witnessed a collision between two neutron stars for the first time, thanks to a tie-in between gravitational wave observatories and 70 telescopes around the world.