6,000-mile plume spurts from icy moon into water “donut” around Saturn

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is famous for its plumes that spray water into space. Now the James Webb Space Telescope has watched the biggest known plume so far, spanning thousands of miles, and studied how they feed a huge water “donut” around Saturn.Conti… Continue reading 6,000-mile plume spurts from icy moon into water “donut” around Saturn

Sunlight-activated powder disinfects water in just 60 seconds

If you leave a clear bottle of water in the sunlight, the ultraviolet rays will kill any harmful microbes in that water, making it drinkable … but it has to sit in the sun for at least six hours. A new sunlight-activated powder, however, does the job i… Continue reading Sunlight-activated powder disinfects water in just 60 seconds

Webb confirms water in weird comet, but something else is missing

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor on an object in the asteroid belt, a region of the solar system where it wasn’t known to survive. The new observations also reveal something missing unexpectedly.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, S… Continue reading Webb confirms water in weird comet, but something else is missing

Reusable nanoparticle-coated sponge removes heavy metals from water

Removing heavy metal pollutants from water could soon be easier than ever, thanks to an experimental new sponge. With just one treatment, the device brought contaminated water down to safely drinkable levels.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, Scien… Continue reading Reusable nanoparticle-coated sponge removes heavy metals from water

Thirsty astronauts could just throw some Moon dust in the microwave

While there is water on the Moon, it’s not kept in convenient reservoirs, it’s locked away in the lunar soil. Now, a team of scientists has found that thirsty astronauts could one day refresh themselves fairly easily – by throwing a cup of Moon dirt in… Continue reading Thirsty astronauts could just throw some Moon dust in the microwave

QuenchSea Reel uses deep-ocean pressure to produce drinking water

Back in 2020 we told you about the QuenchSea, a foot-pump-powered portable device for desalinating sea water. Well, its makers are back with the QuenchSea Reel, which uses deep-ocean water pressure to do the same job.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors,… Continue reading QuenchSea Reel uses deep-ocean pressure to produce drinking water

James Webb may have detected water vapor in rocky planet’s atmosphere

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected water vapor near a planet in another system, which could mark the first direct detection of a rocky exoplanet’s atmosphere. But there’s a big if hanging over the find.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, S… Continue reading James Webb may have detected water vapor in rocky planet’s atmosphere

Solar dish reactor produces hydrogen and captures waste products

Engineers at EPFL have built and tested a solar reactor that can generate hydrogen gas from sunlight and water. The system is not only highly efficient at producing hydrogen, it also captures the “waste” products of oxygen and heat to put them to use t… Continue reading Solar dish reactor produces hydrogen and captures waste products

Solar dish reactor produces hydrogen and captures waste products

Engineers at EPFL have built and tested a solar reactor that can generate hydrogen gas from sunlight and water. The system is not only highly efficient at producing hydrogen, it also captures the “waste” products of oxygen and heat to put them to use t… Continue reading Solar dish reactor produces hydrogen and captures waste products

Earth-like exoplanets may be much more common than previously thought

A new study led by UCLA scientists on how water forms on young exoplanets with hydrogen atmospheres and molten oceans of magma suggests that Earth-like planets may not be as uncommon as once thought and that the presence of water on such planets may be… Continue reading Earth-like exoplanets may be much more common than previously thought