Lunar spacecraft exhaust could obscure clues to origins of life

by quasarn01 | Jan 7, 2026 | Astronomy

Over half of the exhaust methane from lunar spacecraft could end up contaminating areas of the moon that might otherwise yield clues about the origins of Earthly life, according to a recent study. The pollution could unfold rapidly regardless of a spacecraft’s...

Vera C. Rubin Observatory spots record-breaking asteroid in pre-survey observations

by quasarn01 | Jan 7, 2026 | Astronomy

Astronomers analyzing data from Vera C. Rubin Observatory have discovered the fastest-ever spinning asteroid with a diameter over half a kilometer—a feat uniquely enabled by Rubin. The study provides crucial information about asteroid composition and evolution, and...

Sandblasting on Mars: Camera reveals how prevailing winds shape elongated landforms in volcanic zone

by quasarn01 | Jan 7, 2026 | Astronomy

Martian winds can have quite an impact. ESA’s Mars Express has spotted them whipping up sand grains and acting as a cosmic sandblaster, carving out intriguing grooves near Mars’s equator. Go to Source

THz spectroscopy system bypasses long-standing tradeoff between spectral and spatial resolution

by quasarn01 | Jan 7, 2026 | Latest in Physics

Terahertz (THz) radiation, which occupies the frequency band between microwaves and infrared light, is essential in many next-generation applications, including high-speed wireless communications, chemical sensing, and advanced material analysis. Go to...

Optics research uses dim light to produce bright LEDs

by quasarn01 | Jan 7, 2026 | Latest in Physics

Researchers at Princeton and North Carolina State University have developed a technique that substantially improves the ability to convert low-energy light into a high-energy version. The method has immediate applications in lighting and displays. Go to...