New Atlas

Space Audio available

Mystery of methane and water on Mars deepens with first-year results of Trace Gas Orbiter

Michael Irving April 10, 2019

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has made a map of the distribution of watery minerals in the Martian surface, studied how the global dust storm affected the atmosphere, and intriguingly found very little methane, which calls into question the results of a study just last week.

An illustration of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter analyzing the atmosphere of Mars

Environment Audio available

Newly identified bacteria feeds on methane in the atmosphere

Nick Lavars April 9, 2019

Scientists in Europe have made an exciting breakthrough in the effort to limit methane seeping into the atmosphere, isolating a previously unknown bacterium that appears to have a ravenous appetite for the atmospheric trace gas.

Methane’s super radiation-trapping abilities make it around 25 to 30 times more potent than CO2 as ...

Space Audio available

Curiosity and Mars Express sniff out source of Martian methane

Michael Irving April 1, 2019

The mystery of methane on Mars has been wafting around for decades. Now, using data gathered by the ESA's Mars Express orbiter and NASA's Curiosity rover on the ground, a new study has not only confirmed that the gas is there, but identified its likely source.

The Mars Express orbiter and Curiosity rover have worked together to pinpoint the source of Martian ...

Space

Summer is coming: Cassini images show methane rain on Titan

Michael Irving January 16, 2019

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is a surprisingly dynamic world. Summer was due to hit its northern hemisphere in 2016, but strangely it didn’t seem to arrive as expected. Now, astronomers have analyzed Cassini images and found evidence of rainfall, indicating that finally, summer is coming.

A composite image of Titan, where evidence of summer rainfall has been found in the northern ...

Environment

New satellite to set sights on industrial methane leaks

James Holloway April 16, 2018

According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the oil and gas industries alone release 75 million metric tons of methane each year. In response, the organization is planning to launch MethaneSAT to identify major sources of methane emissions and identify opportunities for reduction.

MethaneSAT could be keeping tabs on the oil and gas industries by 2021

Space

Earthly microbes found to survive in Enceladus-like environment

Michael Irving February 28, 2018

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is one of the most promising places to look for life. In a new study, scientists subjected earthly bacteria to the kind of conditions found on Enceladus. They were able to survive and reproduce, adding weight to the idea that the icy moon might just be able to support life.

Scientists have recreated conditions found on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, and discovered that some earthly bacteria ...

Space

NASA recreates alien ocean on Earth to test otherworldly sub designs

Michael Irving February 7, 2018

Saturn’s moon Titan is very Earth-like, with lakes and oceans, but instead of water, those seas are composed of liquid methane and ethane. Now, scientists at NASA and WSU have recreated that alien ocean in the lab, to test out designs for submarines that may one day dive into the Titanic depths.

An early concept for NASA's submarine, which would explore the liquid methane-ethane oceans of Titan

Science

Intense x-ray laser creates "diamond rain" in the lab

Michael Irving August 21, 2017

Gemstones might not seem so valuable if they literally rained from the sky, but that's thought to be a common weather pattern on ice giant planets. Now scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have seen it in action here on Earth, by making it rain diamonds in the lab.

Scientists have recreated "diamond rain" in the lab, by simulating the conditions normally found in ice ...

Science

Want to know what the oceans looked like 2.5 billion years ago? Head to Canada

Lisa-Ann Lee April 29, 2017

While Earth wasn't exactly the best place to set up home during the Archaean era, life still managed to thrive in its oxygen-free ancient oceans. Though much of this period remains a mystery, the still depths of Canada’s Boreal Shield lakes could offer clues to our early origin story.

Canada's Boreal Shield lakes, such as Lake Superior, could offer clues to how life thrived in ...

Environment

Tree trunks found to emit methane

Michael Irving March 31, 2017

In the fight to cut greenhouse gas emissions, we tend to think of trees as our allies, but new research suggests they might not be as "green" as we think. Researchers have found that some types of trees emit methane through their trunks, partly countering their role as a greenhouse gas sink.