In this article, we will explore some of the most important recent discoveries from 2021 to 2024.
Exoplanets: a new era of discovery
The search for planets outside our solar system is nothing new. However advances in telescope technology and data analysis techniques have led to an increase in exoplanet discoveries over the past few decades. According to NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program as of February 2021 more than 4,375 confirmed exoplanets have been discovered. Here are some highlights from recent years:
Tess (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite): launched by NASA in April 2018 Tess is designed to survey nearby bright stars to identify transiting exoplanets. As of early 2021 it had already identified over 60 confirmed exoplanets and hundreds of additional candidate planets. One notable discovery was LHS 3844b an Earth-sized rocky world orbiting close to its star, completing its orbit every 11 hours.
Plato (planetary transits and stellar oscillations): led by the European Space Agency (ESA) Plato is scheduled to be launched in 2026 with the primary objective of finding and characterizing terrestrial planets within habitable zones around nearby stars. It will observe thousands of stars simultaneously for several years and detect subtle changes in starlight caused by orbiting planets. This mission aims to build on previous missions such as Kepler and K2 which have made significant contributions to the field of exoplanet science.
Habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 system: announced in 2017 the TRAPPIST-1 system hosts seven Earth-sized temperate planets orbiting a cold dwarf star only 39 light-years away. Recent research suggests that at least three of these worlds may be able to support liquid water on their surfaces making them prime targets in the ongoing quest to find potentially habitable exoplanets. Additional studies using ground-based observatories and future space missions such as Jost (James Webb Space Telescope) could help determine if any of these planets possess atmospheres compatible with life.
Fast radio bursts: unraveling mysterious cosmic phenomena
First discovered in 2007, fast radio bursts (FRBs) are intense pulses of radio waves that last only milliseconds but release more energy than the sun does in a full day. Their origins are still largely unknown although they seem to come from distant galaxies. Many important discoveries have been made recently:
Resonance (Canadian Hydrogen density mapping experiment): a revolutionary radio telescope dedicated to scanning the sky for FRP, began resonance in 2018. Since then more than 500 FRPs have been detected including dozens of previously undetected repeated bursts. The wide field of view and fast scanning capabilities make it an ideal tool for studying these mysterious phenomena.
Localized FRP: until recently determining the exact location of FRP remained elusive due to its short duration and large distances. However in 2020 scientists used multiple telescopes including the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii, to localize FRP to a particular galaxy about 3 billion light-years away. This was a milestone in understanding the nature and origin of these powerful cosmic signals.
The interstellar object Oumuamua: a first glimpse into the past of the solar system
Oumuamua was discovered in October 2017 and was the first interstellar object to be observed across our solar system. Its unusual shape (elongated, cigar-like) and trajectory suggested that it originated from another star system. While initially classified as a comet, further observations revealed no signs of farting or other typical cometary activity. Some have speculated that it may be a space probe however most astronomers think it is just a piece of rock or icy debris from another stellar neighborhood. Key findings include:
Origins: using data from various observatories including the very large Esso Telescope the researchers traced the path of Oumuamua to its possible point of Origin: a binary star system located about 11 parsecs away (about 36 light years). This discovery provides valuable insights into the types of objects that can form in different environments and eventually migrate between star systems.
Composition and structure: although Oumuamua did not show obvious guilty behavior, subtle differences in its brightness hinted at a complex structure. Scientists have suggested that it could consist of nitrogen ice mixed with dust grains similar to the surface of Pluto. Instead they may consist of a dense cluster of small rocks loosely held together by gravity.
2022: a year of pioneering missions and revelations
November 2022: on the occasion of a milestone in lunar exploration, NASA's Artemis I mission successfully sent the Orion spacecraft on an unmanned flight on the moon, paving the way for future human missions to the moon.
December 2022: the James Webb Space Telescope arrives at its final destination in L2 and begins its historic mission. This powerful telescope has already exceeded expectations as it captured amazing images and data that revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
2023: deep dive into the past and the possibilities of life
January 2023: using ultrasound, astronomers looked back in time to observe galaxies that formed just 600 million years after the Big Bang providing important insights into the early universe.
October 2023: the OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returned to earth with a precious sample of the asteroid Bennu, providing invaluable information about the formation of our solar system.
December 2023: India (Chandrayaan-3) mission landed near the south pole of the Moon becoming the first spacecraft to explore this area and possibly reveal secrets about lunar ice deposits.
2024: unveil new worlds and explore the familiar
February 2024: Jost's team made another important discovery finding the best evidence to date of a neutron star inside a supernova remnant and providing new insights into the life cycle of massive stars.
February 2024: astronomers have observed new details in the atmospheres of 15 exoplanets and planets outside our solar system providing valuable clues about their composition and habitability.
February 2024: research on Saturn's moon Titan suggests that its liquid ocean may not be as habitable as previously thought due to an unexpected shortage of certain key molecules.
Along with these discoveries, 2024 marks an exciting year for space exploration with many missions ahead:
November 2024: Artemis II is scheduled to send astronauts on a lunar flight bringing humans closer to the moon than they have been since Apollo 17.
The launch window opens in 2024: China's first lunar sample return mission from the far side of the moon aims to collect valuable geological data enhancing our understanding of its formation and composition.
These examples represent just a fraction of the remarkable space discoveries made in recent years and a glimpse of the vast ocean of knowledge waiting to be explored in the universe. Technological advances continue to push the boundaries of what we know about our universe paving the way for more amazing discoveries in the near future. From uncovering the secrets of exoplanets to deciphering the secrets of fast radio bursts and tracing the paths of interstellar visitors, insatiable curiosity pushes us closer to understanding the vast universe beyond our planet.
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