Astrochemistry
Interstellar ices: a possible scenario for symmetry breaking of extraterrestrial chiral organic molecules of prebiotic interest 
In the laboratory, the photo-and thermochemical evolution of ices, made of simple molecules of astrophysical relevance, always leads to the formation of semi-refractory water-soluble organic residues.
Habitable Zones & Global Climate
Bright Opportunities for Atmospheric Characterization of Small Planets
We report improved masses, radii, and densities for four planets in two bright M-dwarf systems, K2-3 and GJ3470, derived from a combination of new radial velocity and transit observations. Supplementing K2 photometry with follow-up Spitzer transit observations refined the transit ephemerides of K2-3 b, c, and d by over a factor of 10.
Titan
Nitrogen-containing Anions and Tholin Growth in Titan's Ionosphere: Implications for Cassini CAPS-ELS Observations
The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) Electron Spectrometer (ELS) instrument onboard Cassini revealed an unexpected abundance of negative ions above 950 km in Titan's ionosphere.
Meteorites, Asteroids, & Comets
Clues To Delivery of Water to Earth From Carbonaceous Chondrites
An international study led by researchers from the Institute of Space Sciences, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya has discovered that carbonaceous chondrites, a class of meteorites, incorporated hydrated minerals along with organic material from the protoplanetary disk before the formation of planets.
SETI
A Proposed Method for a Photon-Counting Laser Coherence Detection System to Complement Optical SETI
The detection of laser radiation originating from space is a positive indicator of Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (ETI).
Origin & Evolution of Life
Discovery Of The Oldest Evidence Of Mobility On Earth
An international and multi-disciplinary team coordinated by Abderrazak El Albani at the Institut de chimie des milieux et matériaux de Poitiers (CNRS/Université de Poitiers) has uncovered the oldest fossilised traces of motility.
Origin & Evolution of Life
Life May Have Thrived On Earth 3.5 Billion Years Ago
Three and a half billion years ago Earth hosted life, but was it barely surviving, or thriving? A new study carried out by a multi institutional team with leadership including the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) provides new answers to this question.
Fossils
Fossilized Tracks Suggest Multicellular Life Far Older Than Previously Thought
Newly discovered fossilized tracks suggest multicellular life could be 1.5 billion years older than previously thought, according to a new study by an international team of researchers including scientists at the University of Alberta.
Habitable Zones & Global Climate
Undersea Gases Could Superheat Earth
The world's oceans could harbor an unpleasant surprise for global warming, based on new research that shows how naturally occurring carbon gases trapped in reservoirs atop the seafloor escaped to superheat the planet in prehistory.
Habitable Zones & Global Climate
Stellar Activity Effects on Moist Habitable Terrestrial Atmospheres Around M dwarfs
Transit spectroscopy of terrestrial planets around nearby M dwarfs is a primary goal of space missions in coming decades. 3-D climate modeling has shown that slow-synchronous rotating terrestrial planets may develop thick clouds at the substellar point, increasing the albedo.
TRAPPIST-1
Tidal Heating and the Habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanets
Context. New estimates of the masses and radii of the seven planets orbiting the ultracool M-dwarf TRAPPIST-1 star permit improved modelling of their compositions, heating by tidal dissipation, and removal of tidal heat by solid-state convection.
More top stories from February.
Recent Releases
Recent Status Reports
Calendar
Masthead
Tip your editors
tips@spaceref.com