Worlds

ESA’s Ariel Mission Passed Critical Review Prepared to Unravel the Mysteries of Distant Worlds

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Exoplanet System Drawing

Ariel, ESA’s new mission to explore the chemical makeup of distant exoplanets, successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), paving the way for the 2029 launch. The payload will include a telescope, infrared spectrometer and guidance module aimed at studying the atmospheres and chemical environments of nearly 1,000 exoplanets. Credit: ESA Ariel, ESA’s mission to … Read more

4 Billion Years – World’s Oldest Known Rocks Provide Clues to Early Tectonics

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4 Billion Year Old Granite Rock from the Northwest Territories, Canada

The oldest rock in the world: 4 billion years old granite rock from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Credits: Prof. Li Xianhua’s group Currently, Earth stands alone as the only identified planet sustaining life, largely thanks to the dynamics of plate tectonics. This process plays a crucial role in recycling vital biogeochemical elements and keeping the … Read more