Space & Planetary
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Jan-2026 05:11 ET (24-Jan-2026 10:11 GMT/UTC)
11-Oct-2025
Researchers discover how forest biodiversity increases productivity via complementary use of canopy space by tree species
Chinese Academy of Sciences HeadquartersPeer-Reviewed Publication
A new study shows that tree diversity consistently promotes productivity through fostering greater canopy structural complexity (CSC). Species complementarity is the main driver, with its positive effects strengthening over time.
- Journal
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
11-Oct-2025
Team highlights importance of human exploration of the three deeps
Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)Peer-Reviewed Publication
A team of scientists from Southern University of Science and Technology has published a paper highlighting the importance of human exploration in the three deeps – deep space, deep sea, and deep Earth. Their paper is published in the journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research on September 11, 2025.
- Journal
- Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research
10-Oct-2025
Microwaves for energy-efficient chemical reactions
University of TokyoPeer-Reviewed Publication
Some industrial processes used to create useful chemicals require heat, but heating methods are often inefficient, partly because they heat a greater volume of space than they really need to. Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo devised a way to limit heating to the specific areas required in such situations. Their technique uses microwaves, not unlike those used in home microwave ovens, to excite specific elements dispersed in the materials to be heated. Their system proved to be around 4.5 times more efficient than current methods.
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Funder
- JSPS, JST PRESTO
9-Oct-2025
Temperature-responsive microrobot for high-temperature sensing in constrained environments
Research
Temperature sensing plays a pivotal role in controlling and monitoring industrial, chemical, and biomedical systems. There are some complex internal space structures such as porous and zigzag in microscale or constrained environments. Traditional temperature measurement techniques such as thermocouples, infrared sensors, and fiber optics face larger challenges in such specific environments. This is not only due to their size but also because of limitations in mechanical flexibility, spatial adaptability, or contact requirements restrictions. To overcome these challenges, researchers have explored various nanoscale thermometers, including quantum dots, lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. These temperature measurement methods offer high spatial resolution and a broad temperature measurement range, but they typically require continuous light excitation and real-time fluorescence detection. It makes them difficult to implement effectively in complex porous structures or confined internal spaces.
- Journal
- Research
- Funder
- National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China, Heilongjiang Touyan Team, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China
9-Oct-2025
Astronomers find mystery dark object in distant universe
University of California - DavisPeer-Reviewed Publication
Using a global network of telescopes, astronomers have detected the lowest-mass dark object yet found in the universe. Finding more such objects and understanding their nature could rule out some theories about the nature of dark matter, the mystery substance that makes up about a quarter of the universe.
- Journal
- Nature Astronomy
- Funder
- European Research Council, Italian Ministry of University and Research, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, National Research Foundation of South Africa
9-Oct-2025
Discovery of binary stars the first step in creating "movie of the universe"
Australian National UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
A world-first discovery of binary stars could be the first step in building a more complete picture of how our galaxy formed, according to astronomers from The Australian National University (ANU).
The discovery is part of an ambitious 10-year program to scan the entire southern sky every few nights.
- Journal
- Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Funder
- Australian Research Council