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Astronomyplanetary Science

All articles tagged with #astronomyplanetary science

astronomyplanetary-science1 year ago

"Scientists Hunt for Space Dust on English Cathedral Roofs"

Scientists are scouring the roofs of English cathedrals, such as Canterbury Cathedral, for cosmic dust particles known as micrometeorites. These tiny particles, which likely originate from comets and asteroids, provide valuable insights into the chemistry of asteroids and meteorites, as well as Earth's history and changes over time. Researchers are using vacuum cleaners to collect thousands of dust particles in the hopes of finding minuscule cosmic spherols, and are also exploring the potential influence of cosmic dust on Earth's chemistry and early prebiotic chemistry. The abundance of urban micrometeorites is opening up planetary science to a wider audience and providing a snapshot of the different processes and bodies in outer space.

astronomyplanetary-science1 year ago

"Unraveling the Mystery: How Passing Stars Altered Earth's Orbit Millions of Years Ago"

New research suggests that a chance encounter between the Solar System and a passing star around 56 million years ago may have altered Earth's orbit, potentially contributing to a significant climate change event known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The study's simulations show that such encounters could have disrupted planetary orbits, leading to changes in Earth's climate. This finding highlights the importance of considering stellar encounters in understanding the long-term evolution of the Solar System and its potential impact on Earth's climate.