Planet : Science World Report

Sep 19, 2014 07:31 AM EDT

Icy Moon of Uranus, Miranda, was Deformed by Tidal Heating

Orbiting Uranus, Miranda appears to have experienced an episode of intense resurfacing that resulted in the formation of at least three remarkable surface features: polygonal-shaped areas called coronae. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at these coronae to learn a bit more about the moon.

Sep 08, 2014 11:12 AM EDT

Scientists Watch the Birth of a Planet Forming from the Disk Around a Star

Scientists are taking a closer look at the birth of a planet. They've discovered what may be evidence of a planet forming around a star that's just 335 light-years from Earth.

Aug 27, 2014 11:59 AM EDT

Pebble-Sized Rocks Near Orion Nebula May Jump-Start Planet Formation

Planets in our universe start out as microscopic bits of dust. Now, scientists have found out that the Orion Nebula may just be brimming with pebble-sized particles that could jump start planet formation.

Aug 08, 2014 07:30 AM EDT

Water 'Microhabitats' in Largest Asphalt Lake May Reveal Possibility for Life on Other Planets

Researchers have discovered extremely small habitats in an asphalt lake that may just increase the potential for life on other worlds while at the same time offering a way to clean up oil spills on our own.

Aug 05, 2014 11:38 AM EDT

Cool, Planet-like Y Dwarf Started Life as a Fiery, Hot Star

Can you imagine a planet beginning its life as a star? Astronomers have spotted an extremely cool, planet-like object that probably spent much of its youth as hot as a star.

Jul 30, 2014 10:13 AM EDT

Mercury's Bizarre Magnetic Field Reveals a Different Interior from Earth's

Mercury and Earth may both be rocky planets with iron cores, but their magnetic fields are drastically differently. Now, researchers have found that Mercury's interior may differ in a way that explains why it has such a bizarre magnetic field.

Jul 21, 2014 07:51 AM EDT

Oceans May be Vital for Supporting Alien Life on Other Planets

Earth can't be the only planet to host life in our universe. Now, scientists have found that oceans may actually be vital for supporting alien life.

Jul 18, 2014 06:33 AM EDT

Scientists Crush Diamonds with Lasers to Learn More About Massive Planets

Scientists are learning a bit more about the giant planets of our universe. They've experimentally re-created the conditions that exist deep within planets such as Jupiter and Uranus.

Jul 09, 2014 07:23 AM EDT

Metal-Rich Planet Mercury was Created by a Hit-and-Run Collision in our Early Galaxy

Mercury, one of the closest planets to our sun, has long puzzled scientists with its unusual metal-rich composition. Now, researchers have discovered the possible origins of Mercury.

Jul 09, 2014 07:06 AM EDT

Earth-sized Planets Survive and May be Habitable Thanks to Friction

NASA scientists have found out that friction may play a larger role than expected; it could be key to survival for distant Earth-sized planets traveling in dangerous orbits.

Jul 04, 2014 08:05 AM EDT

Newly Spotted Frozen World in Binary Star System Expands Hunt for Earth-like Planets

A newly discovered world in a binary start system about 3,000 light-years from our own planet may just expand scientists' views of where Earth-like and potentially habitable planets can form.

Jun 09, 2014 11:20 AM EDT

Milky Way Galaxy May Have 100 Million Planets that Could Support Life

Could other planets support life? It's likely, and there may be more in our very own galaxy than previously thought. Astronomers have found that there are about 100 million other places in the Milky Way galaxy that could support complex life.