Astronomer and citizen scientists find gigantic planet hidden in plain sight
An astronomer and a group of eagle-eyed citizen scientists have discovered a giant gas planet hidden from view by typical stargazing tools.
The Brighter Side of News features good news, compassionate news and inspirational news from around the world
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Joseph Shavit
- Dec 29, 2021
Largest collection of free-floating planets found in the Milky Way
Astronomers have discovered at least 70 new free-floating planets — planets that wander through space without a parent star.
Joseph Shavit
- Dec 22, 2021
MIT Engineers Test An Idea For A New Hovering Rover
Aerospace engineers at MIT are testing a new concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon’s natural charge.
Joshua Shavit
- Dec 21, 2021
Advanced analysis of Apollo sample illuminates Moon’s evolution
Sophisticated analysis of a rock sample taken from the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission revealed new information.
Joshua Shavit
- Dec 20, 2021
NASA enters the solar atmosphere for the first time, bringing new discoveries
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has now flown through the Sun’s upper atmosphere – the corona – and sampled particles and magnetic fields there.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 29, 2021
Pentagon creates new office to probe UFO reports
The new office will focus on incidents in, or near, "special use airspace" areas strictly controlled and blocked from general aviation use.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 22, 2021
Cosmic dust may be key source of phosphorus for life on Earth
When Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, any phosphorus that was present likely sank into the molten core due to the element's properties.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 21, 2021
NASA seeks ideas for a nuclear reactor on the moon
NASA and the nation's top federal nuclear research lab on Friday put out a request for proposals for a fission surface power system.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 18, 2021
Carbon dioxide “traps” on the Moon could be used to make fuel and grow plants
A cold trap refers to a pocket on the surface of a solid body in which volatile gases can accrue and remain still for long periods of time.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 12, 2021
Near-earth asteroid might be a lost fragment of the moon
A near-Earth asteroid named Kamo`oalewa could be a fragment of our moon, according to a new paper. Kamo`oalewa is a quasi-satellite.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 11, 2021
'Eggshell Planets' -- Earth-like exoplanets orbiting distant stars
Planets known as eggshell planets, which orbit distant stars, have ultra-thin crusts too thin to sustain tectonics and are hostile to life.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 11, 2021
New space telescope to peer back at the universe's first galaxies
Among other goals, James Webb will search the atmospheres of alien planets for what scientists call "biosignatures" -- the presence of life.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 10, 2021
People with disabilities have been locked out of spaceflight, but that is changing
As the airplane tilted steeply upward, Mona Minkara, who is legally blind, experienced gravity like never before. It's a bizarre feeling.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 10, 2021
Major endorsement for new space mission to find 'Earth 2.0'
A major new space telescope searching for 'Earth 2.0'—to Succeed Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope —is one step closer to reality.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 9, 2021
Scientists detect a 'tsunami' of gravitational waves
A team of international scientists have unveiled the largest number of gravitational waves ever detected.
Joseph Shavit
- Sep 1, 2021
New innovation could reduce the amount of hazardous space debris
A drag sail that a team at Purdue University developed to pull launch vehicles in space back to Earth is scheduled to undergo a test launch
Joseph Shavit
- Sep 1, 2021
The forecast for Mars includes otherworldly weather predictions
As scientists prepare for crewed missions to nearby planets and moons, they've identified a need for something beyond rovers and rockets.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 31, 2021
International Space Station is growing human tissue to reduce the need for animal testing
We have shown that the path to producing human tissue in space is feasible, not only in theory, but in practice
Joseph Shavit
- Aug 6, 2021
NASA's Juno celebrates 10 years with new infrared view of moon Ganymede
The spacecraft used its infrared instrument during recent flybys of Jupiter's mammoth moon to create this latest map.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 6, 2021
Scientists invent new dark matter detector using quantum ion crystals
Researchers can measure the vibrational excitation of the crystal — the flat plane moving up and down like the head of a drum.