Why there may be oceans inside dwarf planets beyond Pluto – and what this means for the likely abundance of life

The Solar System could be awash with oceans, not on the surface but hidden inside the most surprising bodies

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
April 4, 2024 • ~8 min

What is a dwarf planet?

The dwarf planets in our Solar System are cold, dark, far away and full of surprises.

Vahe Peroomian, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
April 4, 2022 • ~7 min

Dwarf planet Ceres may have salty water inside

Bright spots on the dwarf planet Ceres point to briny resevoirs below its surface, researchers say.

Robert Sanders-UC Berkeley • futurity
Aug. 12, 2020 • ~11 min

Life inside Pluto? Hot birth may have created internal ocean on dwarf planet

Pluto began hot inside, study of its surface fractures suggests

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
June 22, 2020 • ~8 min

Discovery of object with multiple stars offers an opportunity for insight into our own planet

Planets that are even a little like Earth are hard to find. That’s why when astronomers like Jennifer G. Winters come across a body that may be solid, rocky, and possibly have its own atmosphere, they get excited. And especially so in a case like this: For although it is statistically unlikely to host life

Clea Simon • harvard
Oct. 23, 2019 • ~5 min

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