Carnegie Science
@carnegiescience.bsky.social
The Carnegie Institution for Science is dedicated to scientific discovery and supporting exceptional individuals in an atmosphere of independence.
If A.I. can detect these faint chemical traces after billions of years on Earth…
👀 ...imagine what it could find on Mars or Europa! (6/6)
Read the full release + methods 👇
carnegiescience.edu/chemical-evi...
👀 ...imagine what it could find on Mars or Europa! (6/6)
Read the full release + methods 👇
carnegiescience.edu/chemical-evi...
November 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
If A.I. can detect these faint chemical traces after billions of years on Earth…
👀 ...imagine what it could find on Mars or Europa! (6/6)
Read the full release + methods 👇
carnegiescience.edu/chemical-evi...
👀 ...imagine what it could find on Mars or Europa! (6/6)
Read the full release + methods 👇
carnegiescience.edu/chemical-evi...
The black stripes you’re seeing here are finely layered, carbon-rich layers left behind by microbial communities ~2.5 billion years old.
The study shows that this carbon may have been produced by early photosynthesizers! (5/6)
📸 @archeanandrea.bsky.social
The study shows that this carbon may have been produced by early photosynthesizers! (5/6)
📸 @archeanandrea.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The black stripes you’re seeing here are finely layered, carbon-rich layers left behind by microbial communities ~2.5 billion years old.
The study shows that this carbon may have been produced by early photosynthesizers! (5/6)
📸 @archeanandrea.bsky.social
The study shows that this carbon may have been produced by early photosynthesizers! (5/6)
📸 @archeanandrea.bsky.social
That's not all. The A.I. also uncovered chemical signatures showing that oxygen-producing photosynthesis began 800+ million years earlier than we thought—pushing it to at least 2.5 billion years ago.
That’s a major shift in our understanding of Earth's history. (4/6)
That’s a major shift in our understanding of Earth's history. (4/6)
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
That's not all. The A.I. also uncovered chemical signatures showing that oxygen-producing photosynthesis began 800+ million years earlier than we thought—pushing it to at least 2.5 billion years ago.
That’s a major shift in our understanding of Earth's history. (4/6)
That’s a major shift in our understanding of Earth's history. (4/6)
The mindblowing part? These patterns were detectable in rocks 3.3 billion years old—nearly doubling the age range where molecular evidence of life can be recovered. (3/6)
📸 : @miquai.bsky.social
📸 : @miquai.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The mindblowing part? These patterns were detectable in rocks 3.3 billion years old—nearly doubling the age range where molecular evidence of life can be recovered. (3/6)
📸 : @miquai.bsky.social
📸 : @miquai.bsky.social
The team analyzed 400+ samples, from fossils and fungi to meteorites, and trained A.I. to spot chemical “fingerprints” of life even when every original biomolecule has been destroyed. (2/6)
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The team analyzed 400+ samples, from fossils and fungi to meteorites, and trained A.I. to spot chemical “fingerprints” of life even when every original biomolecule has been destroyed. (2/6)
“The Pleiades has played a central role in human observations of the stars since antiquity. This work marks a big step toward understanding how the Pleiades has changed since it was born one hundred million years ago.” - Luke Bouma
Read the press release: bit.ly/3WSsheN
Read the press release: bit.ly/3WSsheN
November 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
“The Pleiades has played a central role in human observations of the stars since antiquity. This work marks a big step toward understanding how the Pleiades has changed since it was born one hundred million years ago.” - Luke Bouma
Read the press release: bit.ly/3WSsheN
Read the press release: bit.ly/3WSsheN
This new rotation-based approach will allow astronomers to age-date hundreds of thousands of stars in our galaxy and reconstruct stellar family trees across the Milky Way—linking isolated clusters of stars to vast networks of long-lost relatives.
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This new rotation-based approach will allow astronomers to age-date hundreds of thousands of stars in our galaxy and reconstruct stellar family trees across the Milky Way—linking isolated clusters of stars to vast networks of long-lost relatives.
To trace stellar siblings scattered across the galaxy, astronomers combined data from:
NASA's TESS → rotation speeds
ESA's Gaia → motion
SDSS→ chemistry
Together, they revealed thousands of stars born in the same cosmic nursery as the Pleiades.
@sdssurveys.bsky.social @esa.int
NASA's TESS → rotation speeds
ESA's Gaia → motion
SDSS→ chemistry
Together, they revealed thousands of stars born in the same cosmic nursery as the Pleiades.
@sdssurveys.bsky.social @esa.int
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
To trace stellar siblings scattered across the galaxy, astronomers combined data from:
NASA's TESS → rotation speeds
ESA's Gaia → motion
SDSS→ chemistry
Together, they revealed thousands of stars born in the same cosmic nursery as the Pleiades.
@sdssurveys.bsky.social @esa.int
NASA's TESS → rotation speeds
ESA's Gaia → motion
SDSS→ chemistry
Together, they revealed thousands of stars born in the same cosmic nursery as the Pleiades.
@sdssurveys.bsky.social @esa.int
The key to this discovery?
As stars age, their rotation slows down. By measuring those spin rates, astronomers can estimate ages and uncover hidden family ties between stars.
As stars age, their rotation slows down. By measuring those spin rates, astronomers can estimate ages and uncover hidden family ties between stars.
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The key to this discovery?
As stars age, their rotation slows down. By measuring those spin rates, astronomers can estimate ages and uncover hidden family ties between stars.
As stars age, their rotation slows down. By measuring those spin rates, astronomers can estimate ages and uncover hidden family ties between stars.
It’s #NeighborhoodLecture night at the Earth & Planets Laboratory!
Join NASA astrobiologist and author Dr. Caleb Scharf (@calebscharf.bsky.social) for The Giant Leap—a look at how humanity’s move into space could reshape life itself.
⌛6:30 PM | NW DC | There's still time to RSVP!
🎟️ bit.ly/4qxBBT7
Join NASA astrobiologist and author Dr. Caleb Scharf (@calebscharf.bsky.social) for The Giant Leap—a look at how humanity’s move into space could reshape life itself.
⌛6:30 PM | NW DC | There's still time to RSVP!
🎟️ bit.ly/4qxBBT7
November 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It’s #NeighborhoodLecture night at the Earth & Planets Laboratory!
Join NASA astrobiologist and author Dr. Caleb Scharf (@calebscharf.bsky.social) for The Giant Leap—a look at how humanity’s move into space could reshape life itself.
⌛6:30 PM | NW DC | There's still time to RSVP!
🎟️ bit.ly/4qxBBT7
Join NASA astrobiologist and author Dr. Caleb Scharf (@calebscharf.bsky.social) for The Giant Leap—a look at how humanity’s move into space could reshape life itself.
⌛6:30 PM | NW DC | There's still time to RSVP!
🎟️ bit.ly/4qxBBT7
From spying on baby planets to gas giants that shouldn’t exist, our last #NeighborhoodLecture was a rare double feature on the extremes of world-building—told by two Carnegie postdocs.
🎥 Recording + recap: bit.ly/43VgArv
#PostdocAppreciation
🎥 Recording + recap: bit.ly/43VgArv
#PostdocAppreciation
November 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM
From spying on baby planets to gas giants that shouldn’t exist, our last #NeighborhoodLecture was a rare double feature on the extremes of world-building—told by two Carnegie postdocs.
🎥 Recording + recap: bit.ly/43VgArv
#PostdocAppreciation
🎥 Recording + recap: bit.ly/43VgArv
#PostdocAppreciation
Ultimately, this finding helps link planetary interiors and atmospheres—a major step toward understanding where life-friendly conditions might arise! (9/9)
Access the full paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Access the full paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Ultimately, this finding helps link planetary interiors and atmospheres—a major step toward understanding where life-friendly conditions might arise! (9/9)
Access the full paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Access the full paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This research is part of AEThER—the Atmospheric Empirical, Theoretical & Experimental Research project, led by Anat Shahar and funded by the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social.
#AEThER unites experts across disciplines to explore what makes planets habitable. (8/9)
👉 planets.carnegiescience.edu
#AEThER unites experts across disciplines to explore what makes planets habitable. (8/9)
👉 planets.carnegiescience.edu
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
This research is part of AEThER—the Atmospheric Empirical, Theoretical & Experimental Research project, led by Anat Shahar and funded by the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social.
#AEThER unites experts across disciplines to explore what makes planets habitable. (8/9)
👉 planets.carnegiescience.edu
#AEThER unites experts across disciplines to explore what makes planets habitable. (8/9)
👉 planets.carnegiescience.edu
These findings show that water isn’t just a lucky delivery—it could also be a natural consequence of planetary formation!
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
These findings show that water isn’t just a lucky delivery—it could also be a natural consequence of planetary formation!
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
In that high-pressure inferno, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with iron oxides to form water (H₂O) and metallic iron.
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
In that high-pressure inferno, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with iron oxides to form water (H₂O) and metallic iron.
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
How do you reach that kind of pressure in a lab?
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
How do you reach that kind of pressure in a lab?
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
To test the idea, the team recreated the conditions of a newborn planet in the lab, squeezing samples up to 60 gigapascals— ~600,000 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure—and heating them to over 4,000°C (7,200°F).
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
To test the idea, the team recreated the conditions of a newborn planet in the lab, squeezing samples up to 60 gigapascals— ~600,000 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure—and heating them to over 4,000°C (7,200°F).
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
For decades, scientists—including many at Carnegie Science—proposed that water arrives after planet formation, delivered by icy comets or asteroids.
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
For decades, scientists—including many at Carnegie Science—proposed that water arrives after planet formation, delivered by icy comets or asteroids.
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
The work focuses on Sub-Neptunes—planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The work focuses on Sub-Neptunes—planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
These findings show that water isn’t just a lucky delivery—it could also be a natural consequence of planetary formation!
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
These findings show that water isn’t just a lucky delivery—it could also be a natural consequence of planetary formation!
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
Planets across the galaxy could be forming their own oceans, and habitable worlds could be much more common than we imagined. (7/9)
In that high-pressure inferno, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with iron oxides to form water (H₂O) and metallic iron.
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
In that high-pressure inferno, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with iron oxides to form water (H₂O) and metallic iron.
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
In other words, when a young Sub-Neptune’s thick atmosphere meets its hot magma ocean, it can make its own water! (6/9)
How do you reach that kind of pressure in a lab?
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
How do you reach that kind of pressure in a lab?
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
Scientists like Shahar and Miozzi squeeze tiny samples between the tips of two diamonds in a 💎diamond anvil cell💎—a device small enough to fit in your hand, but powerful enough to mimic the heart of a forming planet. (5/9)
To test the idea, the team recreated the conditions of a newborn planet in the lab, squeezing samples up to 60 gigapascals— ~600,000 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure—and heating them to over 4,000°C (7,200°F).
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
To test the idea, the team recreated the conditions of a newborn planet in the lab, squeezing samples up to 60 gigapascals— ~600,000 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure—and heating them to over 4,000°C (7,200°F).
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
That’s nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun (5780°C)! (4/9)
For decades, scientists—including many at Carnegie Science—proposed that water arrives after planet formation, delivered by icy comets or asteroids.
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
For decades, scientists—including many at Carnegie Science—proposed that water arrives after planet formation, delivered by icy comets or asteroids.
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
This new study adds a fresh twist: Water isn’t just delivered—it’s forged. (3/9)
The work focuses on Sub-Neptunes—planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The work focuses on Sub-Neptunes—planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)
They’re the most common type of planet in our galaxy and are thought to have rocky interiors wrapped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. (2/9)