Denis Grodent
denisgrodent.bsky.social
Denis Grodent
@denisgrodent.bsky.social
Planetary scientist and Professor at the Université de Liège.

Grey is just dark white
Reposted by Denis Grodent
More molecules and compounds vital to the origin of life have been detected in asteroid samples delivered to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, strengthening the case that life’s building blocks originated in space. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/components...
Components of RNA among life’s building blocks found in NASA asteroid sample – Physics World
Samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu found to contain molecules and compounds vital to the origin of life
physicsworld.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
For the first time, astronomers have detected a coronal mass ejection from a star other than our Sun, and it was a big one – powerful enough to strip the atmosphere from nearby planets. That's bad news for the search for extraterrestrial life. Here's why: physicsworld.com/a/astronomer... 🧪⚛️🔭
Astronomers observe a coronal mass ejection from a distant star – Physics World
Burst from M-dwarf star could be powerful enough to strip the atmosphere of any planets that orbit it, with implications for the search for extraterrestrial life
physicsworld.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Great job, #Juice! If you’re curious to know more about 3I/ATLAS, check out this episode of Chasing Starlight, where we separate science from science fiction: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytiq...
Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS: expert breaks down the REAL science
YouTube video by ESO Chasing Starlight
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Today I learned that NASA has a collection of free ebooks that can be downloaded as pdfs or ebub format.

The science books even include a children’s section with fun activites and coloring books!

science.nasa.gov/multimedia/s...
Science e-Books - NASA Science
From Earth and the other planets in our solar system, to supermassive black holes and the distant galaxies that contain them, explore NASA science and imagery through our library of e-books.
science.nasa.gov
December 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Reposted by Denis Grodent
🔭🧪🎢 PhD Project focus: Exploring the Atmospheres of Uranus & Neptune with JWST

We're advertising this project with Prof Leigh Fletcher, using infrared spectral data to investigate the changing atmospheres of the ice giants

For details of all our PhD projects look here: le.ac.uk/study/resear... 🔭🧪🎢
November 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Saturn's moon #Enceladus is a top target for us in our #Voyage2050 long-term planning period.

No space agency has ever landed on Enceladus. And yet this moon has enormous potential for new science, particularly in the realm of habitability.

1/ #CM25 🔭
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
🆕 #Smile passes qualification & flight acceptance review, meeting all requirements for launch.
🚀 The joint European-Chinese mission will launch on a Vega-C rocket from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.
📆 Launch window is set for 8 April to 7 May 2026.
Find out more👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🧪☀️
November 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
So true! Yet, while frustrating, I always found these reviewers comments super useful and sometimes enlightening.
All scientists have been haunted by Reviewer #2 bsky.app/profile/us.t...
October 31, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft is ready to aim its instruments at interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS! 🪐☄️

Here’s what’s happening and why it’s such a rare opportunity 🧵
October 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
My new color photographic map of Pluto is now online.

Full resolution image version (~322Mpix) is available on Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/10958...
PDF version (~73MB) is available here: drive.google.com/file/d/1EW-x...

🧵 1/5
October 1, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
A large storm in Jupiter’s mid northern latitudes seen by the Juno spacecraft on April 15, 2021 during Perijove 33.

flic.kr/p/2kUxGVP
September 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
This paper presents a series of hands-on experiments designed to teach principles of carbon dioxide removal through chemical weathering in middle and high school chemistry classes.
Transforming Carbon Dioxide into Rocks!? Experiments for Understanding Carbon Dioxide Removal through Chemical Weathering
This paper presents a series of hands-on experiments designed to teach principles of carbon dioxide removal through chemical weathering in middle and high school chemistry classes. Chemical weathering is demonstrated by the reaction of carbon dioxide dissolved in water with basalt, forming bicarbonate. The experiments, which utilize simple materials such as PET bottles, are safe and feasible for classroom settings. Students are introduced to key concepts such as the carbon dioxide solubility in water and the chemical processes that trap carbon dioxide. The experimental design includes continuous monitoring of dissolved carbon dioxide levels using membrane-based carbon dioxide sensors and pH changes to visualize the progression of bicarbonate formation. These activities provide students with practical experience in carbon dioxide removal methods, mirroring real-world geological processes, and enhance their understanding of their part in the carbon cycle. In addition, the experiments also provide insight into fundamental processes of carbon capture and storage based on the chemical weathering of basalt. The accessibility of the materials, coupled with the relevance to current global climate discussions, makes this a valuable addition to chemistry education. This approach aims to fill the educational gap on carbon dioxide removal, empowering students to engage in societal discussions on the role of carbon capture and storage in the fight against climate change.
pubs.acs.org
September 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Petit bilan de la mission Juno à l'occasion de la fin de sa première extension de mission sur Radio Canada: ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premie...
Juno, la grande exploratrice de Jupiter | OHdio | Radio-Canada
Écoutez l’extrait de l’émission Les années lumière : Juno, la grande exploratrice de Jupiter
ici.radio-canada.ca
September 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Check out the recent aurora captured by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) all-sky camera in Kiruna, Sweden 😍

Find out what caused the auroral activity: @esaspaceweather.esa.int

Find out how space weather affects life on Earth: www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
September 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Onwards to Venus for #ESAJuice (after a little communication blip on the way). No science data or images from the flyby on Aug 31st, but the momentum gained during this 'hot phase' is crucial for getting us out to the cold realms of Jupiter in 2031. #planetsci
August 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Reposted by Denis Grodent
ESA's Juice mission to Jupiter is on track for its gravity-assist flyby at Venus on 31 August, following the successful resolution of a spacecraft anomaly that temporarily disrupted communication with Earth.
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Juice team resolves anomaly on approach to Venus
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is on track for its gravity-assist flyby at Venus on 31 August, following the successful resolution of a spacecraft communication anomaly...
www.esa.int
August 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Perseids incoming! ☄️

The most famous meteor shower of the year sees its peak on the night of 12 to 13 August.

Making a wish will require extra effort this time around:

🌖 look away from the Moon
💡 avoid light pollution
☕ expect to stay up late
🧣 stay warm 1/2

🔭
August 11, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
Saturn’s north polar vortex and hexagon in near-infrared false color, imaged by Cassini in 2012 & 2013. The hexagon is believed to be formed by a circumpolar jet stream of 320 km/h (200 mph) winds. Centered on the north pole is a 2,000 kilometer (1,250 mile) wide vortex of 540 km/h (330 mph) winds.
July 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
As the planet warms, heatwaves don’t just increase — they increase in duration faster with each degree rise in temperature. Something to look forward to. 🥵
Accelerating increase in the duration of heatwaves under global warming
Nature Geoscience - The duration of long heatwaves increases at an accelerating rate with warming such that a large increase in the risk of long-lasting heatwaves results from relatively modest...
go.nature.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
NASA Goddard director to step down

The head of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is resigning while hundreds of current and former agency employees voice their concerns about the direction of NASA under the new administration.
NASA Goddard director to step down
The head of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is resigning while hundreds of current and former agency employees voice their concerns about the direction of NASA under the new administration.
spacenews.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Denis Grodent
🪂 The largest parachute to ever fly on Mars deployed gracefully on Earth, slowing down an @esa.int #ExoMars dummy descent module for a safe touchdown.

Watch this slow-motion footage captured from the capsule after its release at nearly 30 km above the Arctic Circle.

📽️ Vorticity
July 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM