David Chandler

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Articles

How Comet ATLAS fizzled out

Nov 21, 2024 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

When comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) was first discovered in late September, it was almost immediately identified as a member of the Kreutz family of Sun-grazing comets. But it was highly unusual for a Kreutz comet — virtually all of these are only discovered in their last hours or days of existence, as they plunge toward the Sun and get spotted by the SOHO solar observing satellite.
Scientists race to design craft to reach the enigmatic ‘Oumuamua

Jun 1, 2024 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

1I/2017 U1 (‘Oumuamua) was discovered in October 2017; shortly after, it was determined to be the first object ever seen inside the solar system that had come from beyond it. But by the time its origins had been discerned, the interstellar interloper had already rounded the Sun and was speeding away at some 85,700 mph (138,000 km/h). Just an estimated 1,300 feet (400 meters) across, it faded from view of even the most powerful telescopes within weeks.
Evidence builds for Planet Nine lurking somewhere out there

May 6, 2024 | newsbreak.com | David Chandler

Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Evidence builds for Planet Nine lurking somewhere out there

May 6, 2024 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

Recent papers by Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin, both astronomers at Caltech, are providing a whole new line of evidence in support of the existence of our solar system’s hypothesized Planet Nine. This distant, massive world was first predicted in 2014 by astronomers who noted the unusual orbits of various outer solar system bodies called extreme trans-Neptunian objects. Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) have orbits that are farther from the Sun than Neptune.
Scientists discover a novel vehicle for antibiotic resistance

Mar 1, 2024 | eurekalert.org | David Chandler

By David L. ChandlerWOODS HOLE, Mass. -- Antibiotic resistance is a significant and growing medical problem worldwide. Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and collaborators have found a novel genetic arrangement that may help a common bacterium in the human gut, Bacteroides fragilis, protect itself from tetracycline, a widely used antibiotic.
Campus museums are worth checking out, especially in the rainy season

Sep 27, 2023 | dailyemerald.com | David Chandler

Ducks are fortunate in the riches they get to enjoy on campus, and prime among these are two world-class museums: the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. At the JSMA there is always a robust and varied mix of permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits. Among the permanent ones are excellent collections of Japanese and Chinese art.
Are these seafloor particles the first ever from interstellar space?

Sep 3, 2023 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

Tiny metallic particles dredged up from the seafloor in the South Pacific could be the first substantial bits of material ever found from outside the solar system, according to test results reported in a scientific paper submitted last week by Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb and his team. It is a dramatic claim of a major finding that could help theorists better understand planetary formation processes.
Did the brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen spawn a supernova?

Apr 11, 2023 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

There have been a few exceptions, Smartt says, where no supernova was seen after a long GRB, but those were peculiar cases. So, he says, it’s of great interest to see whether this brightest GRB of all fits the expectation or turns out to be an exception. To find out, Smartt and his team carried out the longest and most extensive of the many sets of observations carried out on GRB 221009A’s declining brightness.
Scanning Mars for microhabitats that could host microbial life

Mar 21, 2023 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

It may seem counterintuitive, but new research shows that observations taken from a great distance, even from orbit, may allow researchers to zoom in on martian microhabitats for the tiniest forms of life: microbes too small to see with the naked eye.
Scanning Mars for microhabitats that could host microbial life

Mar 21, 2023 | astronomy.com | David Chandler

It may seem counterintuitive, but new research shows that observations taken from a great distance, even from orbit, may allow researchers to zoom in on martian microhabitats for the tiniest forms of life: microbes too small to see with the naked eye.