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    Artist's renditions of the space weather around M dwarf TIC 141146667.  The torus of ionized gas is sculpted by the star's magnetic field and rotation, with two pinched, dense clumps present on opposing sides of the star. Illustrations by Navid Marvi, courtesy Carnegie Science.
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    This artist’s concept shows what the ultra-hot super-Earth exoplanet TOI-561 b could look like based on observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories. Webb data suggests that the planet is surrounded by a thick atmosphere above a global magma ocean. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)
    Breaking News
    December 10, 2025

    Ultra-hot lava world has thick atmosphere, upending expectations

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Abstract
The inner solar system's modern orbital architecture provides inferences into the epoch of terrestrial planet formation; a -100 Myr time period of planet growth via collisions with planetesimals and other proto-planets. While classic numerical simulations of this scenario adequately reproduced the correct number of terrestrial worlds, their semi-major axes and approximate formation timescales, they struggled to replicate the Earth- Mars and Venus-Mercury mass ratios (-9 and 15, respectively). In a series of past independent investigations, we demonstrated that Mars' mass is possibly the result of Jupiter and Saturn's early orbital evolution, while Mercury's diminutive size might be the consequence of a primordial mass deficit in the region (potentially the result of the growing Earth's early outward migration). Here, we combine these ideas in a single modeled scenario designed to simultaneously reproduce the formation of all four terrestrial planets and the modern orbits of the giant planets in broad strokes. By evaluating our Mercury analogs' core mass fractions, masses, and orbital offsets from Venus, we favor a scenario where Mercury forms through a series of violent erosive collisions between a number of -Mercury-mass embryos in the inner part of the terrestrial disk. We also compare cases where the gas giants begin the simulation locked in a compact 3:2 resonant configuration to a more relaxed 2:1 orientation and find the former to be more successful. In 2:1 cases, the entire Mercury-forming region is often depleted due to strong sweeping secular resonances that also tend to overly excite the orbits of Earth and Venus as they grow. While our model is quite successful at replicating Mercury's massive core and dynamically isolated orbit, the planets' low mass remains extremely challenging to match. Indeed, the majority of our Mercury analogs have masses that are 2-4 times that of the real planet. Finally, we discuss the merits and drawbacks of alternative evolutionary scenarios and initial disk conditions (specifically a narrow annulus of material between 0.7-1.0 au). We argue that the results of our N-body accretion models are not sufficient to break degeneracies between these different models, and implore future studies to apply further cosmochemical and dynamical constraints on terrestrial planet formation models.
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Abstract
Combining TurboID-mediated proximity labeling with quantitative phosphoproteomics identifies BIN2 signaling components including kinase substrates in vivo, revealing cellular functions of BIN2.
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Abstract
This review highlights recent literature on biomolecular condensates in plant development and discusses challenges for fully dissecting their functional roles. Plant developmental biology has been inundated with descriptive examples of biomolecular condensate formation, but it is only recently that mechanistic understanding has been forthcoming. Here, we discuss recent examples based on current findings in plant and cell biology at different stages of the plant life cycle. We group these examples based on putative molecular functions, including: sequestering interacting components, enhancing dwell time, and interacting with cytoplasmic biophysical properties in response to environmental change. We explore how these mechanisms modulate plant development in response to environmental inputs and discuss challenges and opportunities for further research into deciphering molecular mechanisms to better understand the diverse roles that biomolecular condensates exert on life.
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Abstract
This dataset generates figures S5, S8, and S9 in N. X. Nie, D. Wang, Z. A. Torrano, R. W. Carlson, C. M. OD. Alexander, A. Shahar (2023) Meteorites have inherited nucleosynthetic anomalies of potassium-40 produced in supernovae. The dataset contains .xlsx files presenting the output data of the nucleosynthesis of K and Mo isotopes in supernovae and AGB stars, using the existing nucleosynthesis models. The data was used to investigate the production of K and Mo isotopes in stars and to compare that with the Solar System composition. Copyright: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
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Abstract
On the basis of the van der Pauw method, we developed a new technique for measuring the electrical resistivity of metals in a cubic multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus. Four electrode wires were introduced into the sample chamber and in contact with the pre-pressed metal disk on the periphery. The sample temperature was measured with a NiCr-NiSi (K-type) thermocouple, which was separated from the sample by a thin hexagonal boron nitride layer. The electrodes and thermocouple were electrically insulated from each other and from the heater by an alumina tube as well. Their leads were in connection with cables through the gap between the tungsten carbide anvils. We performed experiments to determine the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of pure iron at 3 and 5 GPa. The experiments produce reproducible measurements and the results provide an independent check on electrical resistivity data produced by other methods. The new technique provides reliable electrical resistivity measurements of metallic alloys and compounds at high pressure and temperature.
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Abstract
Part VI of the evolutionary system of mineralogy catalogs 262 kinds of minerals, formed by 18 different processes, that we suggest represent the earliest solid phases in Earth's crust. All of these minerals likely formed during the first tens of millions of years following the global-scale disruption of the Moon-forming impact prior to similar to 4.4 Ga, though no samples of terrestrial minerals older than similar to 4.37 Ga are known to have survived on Earth today. Our catalog of the earliest Hadean species includes 80 primary phases associated with ultramafic and mafic igneous rocks, as well as more than 80 minerals deposited from immiscible S-rich fluids and late-stage Si-rich residual melts. Earth's earliest crustal minerals also included more than 200 secondary phases of these primary minerals that were generated by thermal metamorphism, aqueous alteration, impacts, and other processes. In particular, secondary mineralization related to pervasive near-surface aqueous fluids may have included serpentinization of mafic and ultramafic rocks, hot springs and submarine volcanic vent mineralization, hydrothermal sulfide deposits, zeolite and associated mineral formation in basaltic cavities, marine authigenesis, and hydration of subaerial lithologies. Additional Hadean minerals may have formed by thermal metamorphism of lava xenoliths, sublimation at volcanic fumaroles, impact processes, and volcanic lightning. These minerals would have occurred along with more than 180 additional phases found in the variety of meteorites that continuously fell to Earth's surface during the early Hadean Eon.
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Abstract
At Stromboli Volcano, Italy, very long period (VLP) seismic signals and Strombolian eruptions have been attributed to the unsteady flow of gas slugs through the shallow plumbing system followed by explosive slug bursting at a free surface. In data from a 2018 seismo-acoustic deployment, similar to 92% of events in two main VLP multiplets do not coincide in time with impulsive infrasonic signals (the expected signal of explosive slug bursting); we term these "silent VLPs." The lack of infrasonically detected explosions relative to repeating VLPs does not support the commonly invoked "gas slug" model. We propose that VLPs may be generated when gas bubbles move into a weak semi-solid plug in the uppermost portion of the conduit. The plug then acts as a mechanical filter in which pathways vary and guide or trap ascending gas slugs, allowing for passive (silent) gas release and explosive escape mechanisms decoupled in time from VLPs.
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Abstract
Estimates of intruded magma volume are critical for forecasting volcanic unrest. Geodetic modeling can provide such estimates but is of limited use in submarine and highly vegetated settings. A complementary approach could be to use estimates of seismic moment release. In this study, we examine the moment-volume scaling of several proximal volcanic earthquake sequences and compare it to that of injection-induced seismicity. We find a notable similarity in scaling between the volcanic sequences, which contrasts with the broad range of responses exhibited by anthropogenic injection-induced sequences. This may imply an underlying similarity in the geologic conditions for volcanoes that is distinct from induced seismicity settings. It could also allow for estimates of intruded volume to be made without geodetic information. This provides further insight into the factors controlling seismogenesis in these different settings and has implications for volcano seismology and injection-induced seismicity hazard estimation.
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Abstract
IntroductionContinental hydrothermal systems (CHSs) are geochemically complex, and they support microbial communities that vary across substrates. However, our understanding of these variations across the complete range of substrates in CHS is limited because many previous studies have focused predominantly on aqueous settings. MethodsHere we used metagenomes in the context of their environmental geochemistry to investigate the ecology of different substrates (i.e., water, mud and fumarolic deposits) from Solfatara and Pisciarelli. Results and DiscussionResults indicate that both locations are lithologically similar with distinct fluid geochemistry. In particular, all substrates from Solfatara have similar chemistry whereas Pisciarelli substrates have varying chemistry; with water and mud from bubbling pools exhibiting high SO42- and NH4+ concentrations. Species alpha diversity was found to be different between locations but not across substrates, and pH was shown to be the most important driver of both diversity and microbial community composition. Based on cluster analysis, microbial community structure differed significantly between Pisciarelli substrates but not between Solfatara substrates. Pisciarelli mud pools, were dominated by (hyper)thermophilic archaea, and on average, bacteria dominated Pisciarelli fumarolic deposits and all investigated Solfatara environments. Carbon fixation and sulfur oxidation were the most important metabolic pathways fueled by volcanic outgassing at both locations. Together, results demonstrate that ecological differences across substrates are not a widespread phenomenon but specific to the system. Therefore, this study demonstrates the importance of analyzing different substrates of a CHS to understand the full range of microbial ecology to avoid biased ecological assessments.
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Abstract
Context. The current architecture of a given multi-planetary system is a key fingerprint of its past formation and dynamical evolution history. Long-term follow-up observations are key to complete their picture. Aims. In this paper, we focus on the confirmation and characterization of the components of the TOI-969 planetary system, where TESS detected a Neptune-size planet candidate in a very close-in orbit around a late K-dwarf star. Methods. We use a set of precise radial velocity observations from HARPS, PFS, and CORALIE instruments covering more than two years in combination with the TESS photometric light curve and other ground-based follow-up observations to confirm and characterize the components of this planetary system. Results. We find that TOI-969 b is a transiting close-in (P-b similar to 1.82 days) mini-Neptune planet (m(b) = 9.1(-1.0)(+1.1) M-Phi, R-b = 2.765(-0.097)(+0.088) R-Phi), placing it on the lower boundary of the hot-Neptune desert (T-eq,T-b = 941 +/- 31 K). The analysis of its internal structure shows that TOI-969 b is a volatile-rich planet, suggesting it underwent an inward migration. The radial velocity model also favors the presence of a second massive body in the system, TOI-969 c, with a long period of P-c = 1700(-280)(+290) days, a minimum mass of m(c) sin i(c) = 11.3(-0.9)(+1.1) M-Jup, and a highly eccentric orbit of e(c) = 0.628(-0.036)(+0.043). Conclusions. The TOI-969 planetary system is one of the few around K-dwarfs known to have this extended configuration going from a very close-in planet to a wide-separation gaseous giant. TOI-969 b has a transmission spectroscopy metric of 93 and orbits a moderately bright (G = 11.3 mag) star, making it an excellent target for atmospheric studies. The architecture of this planetary system can also provide valuable information about migration and formation of planetary systems.
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