Articles

Combined analysis of Chang’e-3 in situ measurements and Chang’e-5 laboratory samples, with an updated chronology from Chang’e-5 data, reconstructed the relation between age and composition of young lunar mare basalts. Results indicate persistent volcanism 2 Gyr ago, indicative of the presence of a heat source at the time.

A planetary origin model that forms exoplanets from a narrow ring of silicate material at a stellocentric distance of 1 au is able to explain the physical properties of super-Earths and reproduce the ‘peas in a pod’ pattern of uniformity within planetary architecture.

An abrupt slow-down in a magnetar’s rotation rate (a ‘glitch’) may be related to the subsequent emission of three radio bursts (resembling fast radio bursts) and a month-long episode of pulsed radio emission.

The aqueous activity responsible for carbonate formation on Ryugu happened much earlier—less than 1.8 million years after CAI formation—than estimates (4–6 Myr) from carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. Ryugu’s parent body either was smaller than ∼20 km in diameter or was disrupted before reaching the high temperatures required.

MicrOmega characterized the population of carbonates detected in the bulk components and in individual grains of the Ryugu returned samples. Two main carbonate families are detected, which were likely formed via two distinct processes at different stages in the early Solar System.

Through mapping the gamma-ray flux in giant molecular clouds, it appears that low-energy cosmic rays hardly penetrate into dense, potentially star-forming, clumps. This finding implies a slower diffusion of cosmic rays in these clumps, possibly caused by higher levels of magnetic turbulence than anticipated.

From an end-to-end model that characterizes the host galaxy, environment and progenitors of the binary neutron star merger gravitational wave event GW170817, the preferred solution is 2 low-metallicity stars of >10 solar masses that were born during Cosmic Noon, interacted repeatedly and remained bound even through 2 supernovae.

Lunar high-concentration ferric ion (Fe³⁺/∑Fe > 40%) and ~63% of nanophase metallic iron (npFe⁰) are produced via charge disproportionation of ferrous iron from micrometeoroid impacts, as observed in the Chang’e-5 sample. This ongoing process would lead to a continuously increasing abundance of Fe³⁺ in the lunar regolith.

Out of more than 3,000 clasts contained in the Chang’e-5 lunar sample, 7 do not come from the region of the Chang’e-5 landing sites. These exotic clasts highlight the lithological diversity of the lunar crust, and their scarcity hints at the need for alternative models for impact ejecta onto young lunar terrains.

Oxygen isotopic measurements from the Ryugu returned sample suggest that primitive hydrated carbonaceous chondrites are an important source of early water and other volatiles to Earth, despite being underrepresented in our meteorite collection due to their preferential destruction during atmospheric entry.

Infrared observations of Jupiter obtained in a 40-yr timespan between 1978 and 2019 show long-term variations of Jupiter’s tropospheric temperature with different periodicities, particularly at tropical latitudes, which often bear some connection with stratospheric temperature fluctuations.

A close-up look at the action of space weathering on carbonaceous asteroids, provided by Ryugu’s returned samples, highlights its role on the dehydration of the first micrometre-thick layer of the surface, possibly hiding a water-rich interior. The depth of the 2.7 µm hydration band may be an indication of the level of space weathering withstood by a C-type asteroid.

Wind power can be an oft-neglected source of energy for future human exploration missions on Mars, especially coupled with solar power. Modelling shows that solar and wind energy can fully power such missions for more than half of the Martian year for ten regions of interest identified by NASA. Another 13 promising sites are identified.

The ‘plane of satellite galaxies’ surrounding our Milky Way seemed to defy dark matter theory for 40 years. Observations now suggest that the alignment is transient, while new simulations form similar structures far more often than previously thought.

A comprehensive study of the Kepler-138 system reveals the twin nature of Kepler-138 c and d and the presence of a fourth planet. Remarkably, the warm-temperate planet Kepler-138 d is probably composed of 50% volatiles by volume, indicative of a water world, rather than a rocky world, despite its small ~1.5 R_⊕ size.

A comparison of copper and zinc isotopic measurements between the Ryugu samples and various carbonaceous chondrites excludes any genetic link between the two except for the CI (Ivuna-type) chondrites. Ryugu-like material might have accounted for ~5% of Earth’s mass.

Observations of a meteoroid coming from the Oort cloud show that it is made of rocky and not icy material, constraining the ratio of rocky to icy objects impacting Earth from the Oort cloud to \({6}_{-5}^{+13}\)%.

A multi-observational study including laboratory analysis of the Chang’e-5 mission samples, in situ measurements and orbital datasets determined the high level of maturity and iron content of the Chang’e-5 landing site regolith. Heavily processed by space weathering, it mostly comes from the nearby Xu Guangqi crater, formed 240–300 Myr ago.

An ultraviolet- and carbon-rich environment is needed to explain the bright emission coming from complex organic molecules observed near the midplane of protoplanetary disks. This implies that the gaseous reservoir from which actively forming planets accrete is carbon and organic rich.

Measurements of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect for the ultra-short-period super-Earth 55 Cancri e reveal a signal with a semi-amplitude of 0.41+0.09-0.10 m s⁻¹, in close alignment with its star and potentially misaligned with the other planets in the system. Such a configuration favours a non-violent migration pathway for 55 Cnc e.