Latest news with #LucyWright
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'We've got a new mystery on our hands': Titan's weird wobble just got even stranger
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. For years, scientists have been intrigued by a weird "wobble" in the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Now, new research is revealing clues about Titan's strange atmospheric tilt, but it's also raising new mysteries. Data from the Cassini mission to Saturn has shown that, unlike Earth's atmosphere, Titan's atmosphere doesn't rotate in sync with its surface. Instead, it tilts and shifts like a spinning top that changes its orientation with the seasons. "The behaviour of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Lucy Wright, lead author of the new research and a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol in the U.K., said in a statement. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble." Scientists thought the direction of the tilt would be influenced by either Saturn's gravity or the position of the sun, as is often the case in planetary systems — meaning it would change as Titan orbited Saturn and the sun. But observations show that the tilt direction doesn't move. Instead, it stays pointed the same way in space, as if unaffected by those external forces. This finding was unexpected. If solar heating or Saturn's gravity were controlling the tilt, it should move over time. Instead, the tilt seems locked in place, suggesting that some other, still-unknown process is at work, the researchers reported in a study published May 20 in The Planetary Science Journal. "That would've given us clues to the cause," Nick Teanby, co-author of the study and a planetary scientist at the University of Bristol, said in the statement. "Instead, we've got a new mystery on our hands." Titan is the only moon in the solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. It is composed primarily of nitrogen and contains complex organic molecules, making it a scientifically important object for studying things like atmospheric processes and prebiotic chemistry. RELATED STORIES —Saturn's moon Titan may have a 6-mile-thick crust of methane ice — could life be under there? —There's liquid on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. But something's missing and scientists are confused —Alien life could exist on Saturn's big moon Titan — but finding it will be tough From 2004 to 2017, NASA's Cassini spacecraft closely observed Titan, revealing important changes in its atmosphere, like a steady tilt in the middle layers and the appearance and disappearance of swirling winter polar vortices. This new understanding of Titan's atmospheric wobble is important for NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission, which is set to arrive in the 2030s. Because Titan's winds are much faster than its surface rotation, knowing how the atmosphere shifts with the seasons will help engineers more accurately plan Dragonfly's descent and landing. "Our work shows that there are still remarkable discoveries to be made in Cassini's archive," study co-author Conor Nixon, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in the statement. "This instrument, partly built in the U.K., journeyed across the Solar System and continues to give us valuable scientific returns. "The fact that Titan's atmosphere behaves like a spinning top disconnected from its surface raises fascinating questions — not just for Titan, but for understanding atmospheric physics more broadly, including on Earth," Nixon added.
Scottish Sun
07-06-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Distant moon could have aliens on it – and experts just spotted a ‘mysterious motion' in its atmosphere
A DISTANT moon in our solar system might mirror Earth's seasons, according to scientists, who also believe it could be a candidate for finding nearby alien life. And scientists just spotted a mysterious motion in its atmosphere. Advertisement 6 Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration Credit: NASA / ESA / IPGP / Labex UnivEarthS / University Paris Diderot illustration Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is home to sprawling rivers and lakes of liquid methane, icy boulders and dunes of grains that resemble coffee grounds. It even has an ocean hiding beneath its surface. Some 746million miles (1.2billion kilometers) away from Earth, the distant moon is thought to have rain clouds just like Earth. Unlike seasons on Earth, Titan has a much longer seasonal cycle, with each year on the moon lasting nearly three decades on our planet. Advertisement Despite its brutally cold temperatures, which average around -179C (-290F), this strange, alien world appears to have the organic ingredients for life. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration. Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life, particularly in subsurface oceans and liquid reservoirs. The mission just passed its critical design review - meaning engineers can begin building the helicopter-like robot ahead of its scheduled launch in July 2028. Advertisement Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034. 6 Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben 6 Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034 Credit: Johns Hopkins APL 'Strange' motion In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface. Advertisement The "strange" motion was detected following analysis of archival infrared data gathered by Cassini probe. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Dr. Lucy Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, said at the time. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilising itself in space. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble. Advertisement "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." 6 In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface Credit: SWNS But understanding how the atmosphere wobbles with the seasons is crucial for calculating the landing trajectory of Dragonfly. The rotorcraft will be carried by Titan's fast-moving winds as it descends through the atmosphere. Advertisement Winds on Titan's upper atmosphere can be tempestuous, with speeds reaching up to 270mph (430kmph). Near the surface, however, the winds are much weaker. The tilt of the planet affects how Dragonfly's payload - a suite of scientific instruments designed to search for alien life - will be carried through the air. So research into the atmospheric motion can help engineers better predict where Dragonfly will touch down on the lunar surface. Advertisement 6 A 3D illustration of the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan Credit: Getty 6 Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, a new study found Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Food for thought There appears to be plenty of organic material on Titan to support alien lifeforms, according to a study published in The Planetary Science Journal last month. Its lakes and its subsurface ocean believed to be 300miles deep, is thought to be filled with cold, oily methane and ethane - which is organic material. Advertisement "There has been this sense that because Titan has such abundant organics, there is no shortage of food sources that could sustain life," Antonin Affholder, of the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. The world exceeds even Earth's oil reserves. However, scientists remain skeptical, and while Titan could harbour life, it's likely only to be a small amount. "We point out that not all of these organic molecules may constitute food sources, the ocean is really big," added Affholder. Advertisement "And there's limited exchange between the ocean and the surface, where all those organics are, so we argue for a more nuanced approach." All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Distant moon could have aliens on it – and experts just spotted a ‘mysterious motion' in its atmosphere
A DISTANT moon in our solar system might mirror Earth's seasons, according to scientists, who also believe it could be a candidate for finding nearby alien life. And scientists just spotted a mysterious motion in its atmosphere. 6 Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration Credit: NASA / ESA / IPGP / Labex UnivEarthS / University Paris Diderot illustration It even has an ocean hiding beneath its surface. Some 746million miles (1.2billion kilometers) away from Earth, the distant moon is thought to have rain clouds just like Earth. Unlike seasons on Earth, Titan has a much longer seasonal cycle, with each year on the moon lasting nearly three decades on our planet. READ MORE ON SPACE Despite its brutally cold temperatures, which average around -179C (-290F), this strange, alien world appears to have the organic ingredients for life. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration. Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) The mission just passed its critical design review - meaning engineers can begin building the helicopter-like robot ahead of its scheduled launch in July 2028. Most read in Science Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034. 6 Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben 6 Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034 Credit: Johns Hopkins APL 'Strange' motion In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface. The "strange" motion was detected following analysis of archival infrared data gathered by Cassini probe. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Dr. Lucy Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, said at the time. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilising itself in space. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble. "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." 6 In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface Credit: SWNS But understanding how the atmosphere wobbles with the seasons is crucial for calculating the landing trajectory of Dragonfly. The rotorcraft will be carried by Titan's fast-moving winds as it descends through the atmosphere. Winds on Titan's upper atmosphere can be tempestuous, with speeds reaching up to 270mph (430kmph). Near the surface, however, the winds are much weaker. The tilt of the planet affects how Dragonfly's payload - a suite of scientific instruments designed to search for alien life - will be carried through the air. So research into the atmospheric motion can help engineers better predict where Dragonfly will touch down on the lunar surface. 6 A 3D illustration of the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan Credit: Getty 6 Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, a new study found Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Food for thought There appears to be plenty of organic material on Titan to support alien lifeforms, according to a Its lakes and its subsurface ocean believed to be 300miles deep, is thought to be filled with cold, oily methane and ethane - which is organic material. "There has been this sense that because Titan has such abundant organics, there is no shortage of food sources that could sustain life," Antonin Affholder, of the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. The world exceeds even Earth's oil reserves. However, scientists remain skeptical, and while Titan could harbour life, it's likely only to be a small amount. "We point out that not all of these organic molecules may constitute food sources, the ocean is really big," added Affholder. "And there's limited exchange between the ocean and the surface, where all those organics are, so we argue for a more nuanced approach." All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is How many moons does What colour is How far away is How big is How many moons does Does How many moons does How big is How hot is the
Al Etihad
07-06-2025
- Science
- Al Etihad
Scientists discover unusual atmospheric motion on Saturn's largest moon
7 June 2025 09:52 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Scientists at the University of Bristol, UK have observed a strange phenomenon in the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, discovering that its upper atmospheric layers do not remain fixed relative to the surface but instead wobble with the changing seasons.A research team made the discovery after analysing 13 years' worth of infrared data from the Cassini-Huygens mission, a joint venture between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space is the only moon in the Solar System with a significant atmosphere, and one that has long captivated planetary scientists.'The behaviour of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange!' said Lucy Wright, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at Bristol's School of Earth Sciences. 'Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilising itself in space.'We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble. Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons.'The team studied the symmetry of Titan's atmospheric temperature field and found that it isn't centred exactly on the pole, as expected. Instead, it shifts over time, in step with Titan's long seasonal cycle—each year on Titan lasts nearly 30 years on Nick Teanby, co-author and planetary scientist at Bristol said: 'What's puzzling is how the tilt direction remains fixed in space, rather than being influenced by the Sun or Saturn.'That would've given us clues to the cause. Instead, we've got a new mystery on our hands.'This discovery will impact NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission, a drone-like rotorcraft scheduled to arrive at Titan in the 2030s. As Dragonfly descends through the atmosphere, it will be carried by Titan's fast-moving winds—winds that are about 20 times faster than the rotation of the how the atmosphere wobbles with the seasons is crucial for calculating the landing trajectory of Conor Nixon, planetary scientist at NASA Goddard and co-author of the study, added: 'Our work shows that there are still remarkable discoveries to be made in Cassini's archive. This instrument, partly built in the UK, journeyed across the Solar System and continues to give us valuable scientific returns. 'The fact that Titan's atmosphere behaves like a spinning top disconnected from its surface raises fascinating questions—not just for Titan, but for understanding atmospheric physics more broadly, including on Earth.' The team's findings contribute to a growing body of research suggesting Titan is not just Earth-like in appearance but an alien world with climate systems all its own, and many secrets still hidden beneath its golden haze. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Titan's Atmosphere 'Wobbles Like a Gyroscope' – And No One Knows Why
There's something very peculiar about the atmosphere surrounding Titan, Saturn's largest moon: rather than staying constantly fixed in line with its surface, the atmosphere wobbles across the course of the seasons. The discovery was made in new research led by a team from the University of Bristol in the UK, through a detailed analysis of 13 years' worth of infrared light readings. Gas composition and temperature can be interpreted from these readings, and from there the shifting position of the atmosphere. It's not clear yet what's causing the unusual behavior, but it could eventually lead to more insights about the history of Titan, and other planetary bodies that share similarities with it. That includes Earth, since both have a relatively thick atmosphere, liquid lakes, and weather patterns. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," says planetary scientist Lucy Wright, from the University of Bristol. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilizing itself in space." "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." That seasonal shift suggests the tilt might have something to do with the moon's yearly cycle around the Sun, in tandem with Saturn. A year on Titan lasts almost 30 years on Earth, and comes with major changes in heating and temperature. However, while the magnitude of the atmospheric tilt changes, the direction it's pointing doesn't: it always remains directed towards the same fixed spot. Working out why is going to take some time and further research. "What's puzzling is how the tilt direction remains fixed in space, rather than being influenced by the Sun or Saturn," says planetary scientist Nick Teanby, from the University of Bristol. "That would've given us clues to the cause. Instead, we've got a new mystery on our hands." One hypothesis the team is considering is that there was a large impact event in Titan's past which caused the atmospheric wobbles to begin, bringing changes in the moon's climate along with them. This research has a very real practical and immediate use: the Dragonfly spacecraft is scheduled to pay a visit to Titan in 2034. Getting the probe to land successfully in the swirling winds of the Saturnian moon will need a precise understanding of its atmosphere. Once Dragonfly is in place, we can expect plenty more in the way of fascinating discoveries. The team behind this new study describes Titan as "one of the most intriguing bodies in the Solar System" because of its characteristics – including being the only moon in the Solar System to have a proper atmosphere. Titan could even enhance our understanding of how life might get started and survive on alien worlds, under the influence of an atmosphere like Titan's – something that future studies could investigate. "The fact that Titan's atmosphere behaves like a spinning top disconnected from its surface raises fascinating questions – not just for Titan, but for understanding atmospheric physics more broadly, including on Earth," says planetary scientist Conor Nixon, from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The research has been published in the Planetary Science Journal. A 'Crazy Idea' About Pluto Was Just Confirmed in a Scientific First A Giant Mouth Has Opened on The Sun And Even It Looks Surprised A Super-Tiny Star Gave Birth to a Giant Planet And We Don't Know How
