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LARGE REGIONS OF ROCK AND METAL: PSYCHE ASTEROID ILLUSTRATION This illustration depicts the 140-mile-wide (226-kilometer-wide) asteroid Psyche, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is the focal point of NASA?s mission of the same name. The Psyche spacecraft is set to launch in August 2022 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026, where it will orbit for 21 months and investigate its composition. Based on data obtained from Earth, scientists believe Psyche is a mixture of metal and rock. The rock and metal may be in large provinces, or areas, on the asteroid, as illustrated in this rendering. Observing and measuring how the metal and rock are mixed will help scientists determine how Psyche formed. Exploring the asteroid could also give valuable insight into how our own planet and others formed. The Psyche team will use a magnetometer to measure the asteroid?s magnetic field. A multispectral imager will capture images of the surface, as well as data about Psyche?s composition and topography. Spectrometers will analyze the neutrons and gamma rays coming from the surface to reveal the elements that make up the asteroid itself. The illustration was created by Peter Rubin. View or download the full resolution versions from NASA?s Photojournal Date Added: 03-29-2021 Credit: Peter Rubin

Space

Spacecraft are heading to a metal asteroid and Jupiter's moons in 2023

The JUICE and Psyche mission are set to blast off in 2023, with the aim of studying Jupiter's largest moons and a possible iron core of a planet in the hopes of understanding how worlds become habitable

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Comparison of a gel sheet and a standard cloth

Technology

Super-absorbent towel soaks up liquids better than cloth or paper

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Dark dunes surrounding Mars's northern polar cap

Space

Mars has enough wind to power bases near the poles all year round

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Nuclear power plant

Technology

Biggest science news stories of 2022 as chosen by New Scientist

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https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/053/01GFRYSFM89AFADVAA0W625BSB NASA?s James Webb Space Telescope?s mid-infrared view of the Pillars of Creation strikes a chilling tone. Thousands of stars that exist in this region disappear ? and seemingly endless layers of gas and dust become the centerpiece. The detection of dust by Webb?s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is extremely important ? dust is a major ingredient for star formation. Many stars are actively forming in these dense blue-gray pillars. When knots of gas and dust with sufficient mass form in these regions, they begin to collapse under their own gravitational attraction, slowly heat up ? and eventually form new stars. Although the stars appear missing, they aren?t. Stars typically do not emit much mid-infrared light. Instead, they are easiest to detect in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. In this MIRI view, two types of stars can be identified. The stars at the end of the thick, dusty pillars have recently eroded the material surrounding them. They show up in red because their atmospheres are still enshrouded in cloaks of dust. In contrast, blue tones indicate stars that are older and have shed most of their gas and dust.

Space

JWST captured the most thrilling and inspiring space images of 2022

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What our attempts to communicate with alien civilisations say about us

Space

What our attempts to communicate with alien civilisations say about us

Features

The alloy of chromium, cobalt and nickel

Chemistry

Toughest material ever is an alloy of chromium, cobalt and nickel

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Orion splashdown

Video

Watch Orion capsule splash down as NASA’s Artemis I mission ends

Video

Splashdown of Orion

Space

NASA’s Artemis I mission has ended as Orion splashed down on Earth

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Image description: An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope deployed in space. The telescope has a large mirror made of hexagons that are being illuminated by the galaxy being observed. Otherwise the top side of the telescope is in the dark. The underside is being lit by the sun. The telescope is set against a starry background.

Space

JWST has broken the record for most distant galaxy ever confirmed

The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted the most distant galaxy ever definitively confirmed, which formed within about 325 million years of the big bang

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Space

Amazing image of crescent Earth rising over the moon captured by Orion

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Space

JWST has taken pictures of clouds on Saturn’s moon Titan

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Space

Growing off-world diversity is making space for everyone

Leader

Space

Japanese firm ispace is racing to put first private lander on the moon

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