All Planetary science articles
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OpinionReturning to the moon
It’s been a while, but space agencies are starting to plan their trips back to our satellite, with the goal of building semi-permanent bases
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Feature
The race to build a base on the moon
Nina Notman talks to scientists helping to return humans to the moon – for good this time
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Research
Saturn’s rings found to be a youthful, recent addition to the planet
Nasa’s Cassini probe reveals dust and ice around the planet is only a few hundred million years old
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Research
Moon still holds surprises as vast amounts of water found in glass beads in lunar soil
Lunar water formed by the solar wind could one day aid exploration of the moon
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Webinar
Uranus: exploring the ice-cold chemistry of the ‘frozen frontier’
Find out why scientists are planning a new space mission to explore the planetary ice giant Uranus
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Feature
Mission to Uranus
With no spacecraft visiting the ice giants for over 30 years, Anthony King speaks to the planetary scientists planning a return visit
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News
European Space Agency unveils plans to get troubled rover to Mars
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended European cooperation on launch of Rosalind Franklin rover
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Research
Mars’ water came from outer space
Asteroids from the outer solar system would have delivered enough water to cover the red planet in a 300m-deep ocean
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Research
Perseverance rover reveals rocks on Mars were repeatedly exposed to liquid water
Suite of analytical tools provides new insight into red planet’s geochemistry
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Opinion
James Lovelock, a gentleman scientist
Philip Ball reflects on the legacy of the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, who has died aged 103
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Opinion
Farsighted science
The Webb telescope looks set to deliver on its promise to change the way we see the universe
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Research
Lunar soil shows promise as a catalyst for extraterrestrial photosynthesis
Moon rock could one day be used to accelerate water splitting and carbon dioxide conversion in space to support crewed missions
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Research
Dimethyl ether found in a planet-forming disc for the first time
Discovery of dimethyl ether, nitric oxide and other small molecules offers insight into early chemical evolution on planets
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News
Europe’s Mars rover faces launch delays due to sanctions on Russia
Mars probe is ‘very unlikely’ to launch in 2022 due to deteriorating relationship between Europe and Russia after invasion of Ukraine
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Research
Freefall flights test feasibility of making oxygen on the moon and Mars
Efficiency of water electrolysis is reduced at lower gravity
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Feature
Drilling deep to discover the secrets of the mantle
Nina Notman hears from the scientists trying to pierce the Earth’s crust below the seafloor to learn more about our home planet
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Research
Ancient Mars meteorites’ organic chemistry cracked – and it’s not alien microbes
Study uncovers geochemical processes that formed organic compounds millions of years ago, at a time when the red planet still had liquid water
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Research
Mysterious nitrogen ice patterns on Pluto linked to sublimation
Scientists use modelling to show that sublimation of nitrogen ice fuels convection in Pluto’s Sputnik Planitia impact crater by cooling its surface
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Research
The sun may have been the surprising source of Earth’s water
Dust grains pounded by solar wind and then delivered to Earth are a significant source of the planet’s oceans
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News
Airbus to build Ariel telescope to examine exoplanets' chemical composition
European Space Agency’s mission to study chemical composition of 1000 exoplanets will launch in 2029
