Mercury can't get a break. Not only is it the smallest officially recognized planet in our Solar System, but it's also shrinking. In a study published in Nature Geoscience, new analysis of photos taken by NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft show distinct landforms that indicate the planet is still contracting as it slowly cools down from its molten early years at the start of the Solar System.
The Martian surface is covered in these weird dark streaks, and scientists couldn't figure out what was causing them. But a study published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience might have a possible answer. They could be from boiling water; it boils fairly quickly on Mars due to low atmospheric pressure. h/t The Verge
Robots are getting better all the time. They can mix drinks, explore other planets and even adapt to new situations. And they're not done yet. In a new paper published this week in Nature Geoscience, researchers describe using an autonomous underwater vehicle called SeaBED to map the underside of sea ice in Antarctica.
