Cosmic pile-up drives strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades
The strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades was not caused by a single solar eruption. Instead, ten clouds of superheated plasma caught up with one another, merged and compressed, creating a cosmic pile-up that made the storm particularly difficult to predict.
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Could life exist in the sulphuric acid clouds of Venus?
New experiments suggest that some of the building blocks of life can survive – and even form complex structures – in concentrated sulphuric acid, raising new possibilities for organic chemistry in the clouds of Venus and on other planets.
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Black hole may spin rapidly, slowly or not at all, study finds
The black hole in the Cygnus X-1 system could be spinning almost as fast as physically possible, or barely spinning at all. A team including scientists from the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the University of Lodz has shown that the answer depends on how the X-ray radiation from the system is modelled.
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Clouds of Venus hide something that strongly absorbs light
Venus appears pale yellow in visible light, but looks dramatically different in ultraviolet, where dark and light bands are visible across the planet’s clouds. Scientists have now developed a model that narrows down what the mysterious substance responsible for this strong ultraviolet absorption could be, according to the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea.
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‘6,000 planets found but where is everybody?’ asks Polish astronomer who discovered the first extrasolar planet
The discovery of thousands of planets beyond our Solar System has brought humanity closer than ever to answering one of its oldest questions: are we alone in the Universe?
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The Astronomer’s Guide to the Galaxy: 20 years of observations reveal blazar’s secrets
A 20-year study of one of the best-known blazars has revealed long-term behaviour that cannot be explained by the standard models used to describe how these extreme cosmic objects produce radiation.
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Polish scientists calculate how to send icy worlds crashing into Mars to thicken its atmosphere
Mars’ extremely thin atmosphere could theoretically be thickened by sending icy objects from the outer Solar System crashing into the planet, bringing with them water, gases and ammonia, according to calculations by scientists from the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
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Six new asteroids named after Polish researchers
Six Polish scientists and an Argentine planetary researcher working in Poland have been honoured with asteroids named after them, in recognition of their work in astronomy, planetary science and geology.
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Fungi could help build habitats on the Moon and Mars
Living organisms, including fungi, could become part of space habitats built on Mars and the Moon in the future. They could help make use of local resources while also becoming part of life-support systems, according to architect Monika Brandić Lipińska, PhD, from the University of Innsbruck.
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Polish-built ramps pass crucial tests for Rosalind Franklin Mars rover
Polish-built ramps that will carry the Rosalind Franklin rover from its lander onto the surface of Mars have passed a series of extreme tests designed to ensure they can operate after the spacecraft reaches the Red Planet.
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Cosmic pile-up drives strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades
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‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’…but fewer clouds mean more UV exposure across Europe
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Single photon reveals the secrets of a single molecule
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Kraków scientists find new way to identify the best eggs for IVF
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Scientists turn thunder into a tool for seeing underground
