If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

An instrument on the Europa Clipper mission might be able to detect biological cells from space.

Lucinda King, Space Projects Manager & Mission Design Lead, University of Portsmouth • conversation
April 5, 2024 • ~7 min

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

Jupiter’s moon Europa produces less oxygen than we thought – it may affect our chances of finding life there

Only about 12kg of oxygen is produced per second on Europa, which is on the lower side of previous estimates from about 5kg to 1,100 kg per second.

Andrew Coates, Professor of Physics, Deputy Director (Solar System) at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL • conversation
March 4, 2024 • ~6 min

Six space missions to look forward to in 2024

Moons and asteroids will be visited by spacecraft from Earth next year.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
Dec. 29, 2023 • ~8 min

Four volcanic hotspots in the Solar System

Jupiter’s moon Io has more than 400 active volcanoes on its surface.

Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
March 23, 2023 • ~7 min

Nasa considers sending swimming robots to habitable 'ocean worlds' of the Solar System

There may be life on Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn moon’s Enceladus.

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
July 4, 2022 • ~7 min

Five of the most exciting telescope pictures of the universe

As we await the launch of the James Webb Space telescope, it’s timely to look back on what previous generations of telescopes have shown us.

Carole Haswell, Professor of Astrophysics, The Open University • conversation
Dec. 23, 2021 • ~9 min

Jupiter: mission unveils the depth and structure of planet's shrinking red spot and colourful bands

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is deep, meaning it may persist even though it is shrinking.

Leigh Fletcher, Associate Professor in Planetary Sciences, University of Leicester • conversation
Oct. 28, 2021 • ~8 min

Nasa: imminent asteroid missions could reveal our origins – and help save Earth from deadly strike

The Lucy mission could revolutionise our knowledge of the Solar System’s history, while the DART mission could help redirect hazardous asteroids in the future.

Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
Oct. 15, 2021 • ~8 min

Nasa has just rejected missions to moons of Jupiter and Neptune – here's what we would have found out

When two missions to Venus were announced, two others missed out.

Ashley Spindler, STFC Innovation Fellow, University of Hertfordshire • conversation
June 7, 2021 • ~6 min

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