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![The Curiosity rover from NASA captured a rock shaped as a "Star Trek" communicator badge on Jan. 9, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a2EMPyQySHjjdjeQrwz9Mh-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Curiosity rover snaps iconic 'Star Trek' symbol on Mars, thrilling scientists
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Curiosity rover spotted a rock formation on Mars that looks just like Star Trek's signature Starfleet symbol.
![An image of a young star-forming region filled with wispy blue, grey, green, and red nebulosity that is brightest towards the centre and fainter towards the edges, especially in the top left corner and on the right side. Thousands of stars are seen sprinkled across the field, concentrated towards the centre, and the brightest stars show the eight spikes due to diffraction that are characteristic of Webb images.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/evkeq5BdW4KABBG3H3xRtd-320-80.jpg)
Physics-breaking 'rogue' objects spotted by James Webb telescope are emitting radio signals that scientists can't explain
By Abha Jain published
A bizarre object discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope may be a pair of 'rogue' planets ― but a new study finds they are emitting radio signals rarely seen from other worlds.
![This map shows the estimated amount of ice within the mounds that form the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) consists of a series of wind-sculpted deposits measuring hundreds of kilometers across and several kilometers high, indicating that the ice-rich deposits are up to 3000m thick.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pt7kf5L2gtSMfbUDburCGG-320-80.jpg)
2-mile-thick layer of frozen water found buried at Mars' equator
By Keith Cooper published
The Mars Express orbiter has detected enough water ice buried beneath the Red Planet's equator to cover the entire planet in a shallow ocean if melted.
![Unknown planet beyond our solar system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YiAFfdw2nuuH3dDNuDmXZU-320-80.jpg)
5 Earth-like worlds may lurk in the outer reaches of the solar system, simulations suggest
By Deepa Jain published
The young sun may have captured several Mars- or Mercury-size exoplanets that now orbit in the outer reaches of the solar system, but identifying them will be extremely challenging.
![Earth, with the sun, Venus and Mercury in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bT9Bz62aDSgeAJiin9WBKQ-320-80.jpg)
Which planet is closest to Earth? (Hint: There's more than 1 right answer.)
By Harry Baker published
It may initially seem like a simple question, but determining which planet is closest to Earth is surprisingly tricky and can have multiple correct answers.
![An artist's rendition of Titan's landscape features a hazy atmosphere, dark dunes, and mirror-smooth lakes and seas that resemble Earth's. On these bodies of liquid hydrocarbons, new research suggests that the appearance of "magic islands" may be caused by floating organic solids.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kZ7HySpC8nHJv7CB8qYEZT-320-80.jpg)
Mysterious 'magic' islands that come and go on Saturn's moon Titan finally have an explanation
By Briley Lewis published
Bright spots that appear and vanish on Saturn's moon Titan have a seemingly simple explanation — they're floating chunks of frozen organic material.
![(Main) A computer-simulated view of Venus based on Magellan spacecraft data. (Inset) The hellish surface of the planet as seen by NASA's Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Jjg8zD2DUjxWNkqacqxwXd-320-80.jpg)
Wispy ice clouds may form above Venus' hellish surface
By Robert Lea published
The surface of Venus is a hellscape with temperatures hot enough to melt lead, but some regions of its atmosphere high over the surface remain cool enough to harbor ice and birth ghostly clouds.
![Io, as seen by NASA's Juno spacecraft on Dec. 30, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DdHVtKMTDphHSSDVzQcsV-320-80.jpg)
Space photo of the week: An eerie look at Io, the most volcanic world in the solar system
By Jamie Carter published
In our favorite space image of the week, NASA's Juno spacecraft got an unprecedented look at Jupiter's volcanic moon Io from just 930 miles away.
![Illustration of exoplanet K2-18-b.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qKAeFNxBoBhsd9H6Zx9VH6-320-80.jpg)
Scientists have a new way to find oceans — and possible alien life — on distant planets
By Ivan Paul published
Scientists have proposed a new technique to help researchers identify oceans on exoplanets — a key step to finding life outside our planet.
![Neptune and Uranus colors.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FYrYkNActvEGzFBTzR8weD-320-80.jpg)
Neptune isn't as blue as you think, and these new images of the planet prove it
By Robert Lea published
A new treatment of images collected by Voyager 2 in the late 1980s using data from the Hubble Space Telescope has revealed the actual colors of the solar system's distant ice giants, Neptune and Uranus.
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