All articles tagged with #radioactive elements
Scientists propose that radioactive elements seeping from Europa's rocks into its subsurface ocean could generate enough energy to support microbial life, offering an alternative to internal heat as a source of habitability. The upcoming NASA Europa Clipper mission may test this theory, which is inspired by Earth's chemosynthetic ecosystems.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have uncovered crucial properties of the rare, radioactive element promethium, nearly 80 years after its discovery. By isolating a pure sample and using advanced techniques, they analyzed promethium's bonding properties, comparing it with other lanthanides. This breakthrough could lead to improved separation technologies and new applications for rare earth elements.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that the main source of heat inside Mars is the result of radioactive elements like thorium and uranium decaying over time. The team used data obtained by NASA's Mars InSight lander to determine the thickness of the Martian crust, which averages between 26 and 35 miles, much thicker than that of the Earth or the Moon. At least half of the heat-producing radioactive elements were found in the Martian crust, which could account for "local melt zones" in the planet's interior.