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  • The Moon Is Shrinking — And It’s Causing Moonquakes

    The Moon Is Shrinking — And It’s Causing Moonquakes
    2026/02/22
    New research published in The Planetary Science Journal suggests the Moon is more tectonically active than once believed. Scientists have mapped thousands of small mare ridges—young geological features formed as the Moon slowly contracts.

    These structures appear linked to lobate scarps, indicating the lunar crust is still shrinking and capable of generating moonquakes. The discovery reshapes our understanding of lunar stability and could be crucial for selecting safe landing sites and protecting future astronauts on upcoming Moon missions.

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    29 分
  • EXCITE Mission: A High-Altitude Balloon Telescope Mapping Alien Worlds

    EXCITE Mission: A High-Altitude Balloon Telescope Mapping Alien Worlds
    2026/02/21
    The EXCITE mission is using a specialized infrared telescope carried by a high-altitude balloon to study the atmospheres of distant hot Jupiters. Floating above most of Earth’s atmosphere, the observatory can continuously monitor these exoplanets and build three-dimensional maps of their temperature structures and weather patterns.

    Unlike heavily scheduled space telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, EXCITE offers a cost-effective platform optimized for capturing full orbital phase curves. After a successful 2024 test flight that validated its stabilization and cooling systems, future launches over Antarctica aim to deepen our understanding of exoplanet climates and atmospheric chemistry

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    32 分
  • Mission to 3I/ATLAS: Can We Intercept the Next Interstellar Object?

    Mission to 3I/ATLAS: Can We Intercept the Next Interstellar Object?
    2026/02/20
    Scientists from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies have proposed an ambitious mission to intercept 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar visitor to enter our solar system. Because the object was detected late and is traveling at extreme speed, a direct launch is no longer possible.

    Instead, researchers outline a 2035 mission using a Solar Oberth maneuver—diving close to the Sun for a powerful velocity boost—combined with a gravitational slingshot around Jupiter. The spacecraft could reach its target after a decades-long journey, offering a rare opportunity to study material from another star system using current technology. Such a mission could transform our understanding of extrasolar planetary formation without requiring true interstellar travel.

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    36 分
  • The Hubble Tension: Could Primordial Magnetic Fields Explain the Expanding Universe?

    The Hubble Tension: Could Primordial Magnetic Fields Explain the Expanding Universe?
    2026/02/19
    Astronomers are grappling with the Hubble tension—a major conflict in measurements of how fast the universe is expanding.

    Data from the cosmic microwave background point to a slower rate, while supernova observations suggest a faster one. New research proposes that primordial magnetic fields from the early universe may have influenced hydrogen formation and altered cosmic expansion.

    Recent simulations indicate these ancient magnetic effects could help reconcile the discrepancy, offering fresh insight into the physics of the infant universe and the origins of cosmic structure.

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    33 分
  • Black Hole Binaries Revealed by Gravitational Lensing

    Black Hole Binaries Revealed by Gravitational Lensing
    2026/02/18
    Astronomers have proposed a new way to detect supermassive black hole binaries—by watching how they bend and magnify starlight. As two black holes orbit each other, their combined gravity acts as a rotating gravitational lens, producing predictable, repeating flashes from distant background stars.

    These light signals could reveal the pair’s masses and orbital motion long before they merge. Using wide-field sky surveys, researchers aim to turn black holes into natural telescopes, opening a new window into the evolution of the universe’s most powerful duos.

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    32 分
  • Failed Supernova? How a Massive Star Quietly Became a Black Hole

    Failed Supernova? How a Massive Star Quietly Became a Black Hole
    2026/02/17
    Astronomers have identified a rare case in the Andromeda Galaxy where a massive star appears to have collapsed directly into a black hole—without exploding as a supernova. After nearly two decades of observations, researchers saw the star fade as its core imploded, while its outer layers dispersed more slowly due to internal convection.

    A lingering infrared glow now marks the aftermath, offering strong evidence for models predicting “failed supernovae.” This discovery suggests that many stellar-mass black holes may form in silence, reshaping our understanding of how these cosmic objects are born.

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    33 分
  • Bennu Asteroid Samples Rewrite Origins of Prebiotic Life Molecules

    Bennu Asteroid Samples Rewrite Origins of Prebiotic Life Molecules
    2026/02/16
    New analysis of asteroid Bennu shows that amino acids can form in cold, icy, and radioactive environments, overturning the idea that warm water is essential. Isotopic evidence points to multiple chemical pathways and diverse solar origins for life’s basic molecules, reshaping theories about how prebiotic chemistry emerged in the early Solar System.

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    37 分
  • First Subsurface Lava Tube Discovered on Venus

    First Subsurface Lava Tube Discovered on Venus
    2026/02/15
    Scientists analyzing NASA’s Magellan radar data have confirmed the first known subsurface lava tube on Venus, hidden beneath the planet’s thick clouds. Located near Nyx Mons, this vast volcanic tunnel may stretch for tens of kilometers, revealing how Venus’s extreme conditions shape its geology.

    The discovery strengthens theories about Venusian volcanism and sets the stage for future missions like Envision and Veritas to explore the planet’s concealed interior.

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    30 分