space science
June 14, 2023
Phosphate, a key building block of life, found on Saturn’s moon Enceladus
![gray planet in cross-section with white plumes escaping from surface](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/14075019/PIA19058-150x150.jpg)
An international team including a UW scientist found that the water on one of Saturn’s moons harbors phosphates, a key building block of life. The team used data from NASA’s Cassini space mission to detect evidence of phosphates in particles ejected from the ice-covered global ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
February 21, 2023
Newly discovered form of salty ice could exist on surface of extraterrestrial moons
![white sphere with dark red streaks](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/02/17161745/Europa-150x150.jpg)
Scientists suspect that the red streaks crossing the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa is a frozen mixture of water and salts, but its chemical signature matches no known substance on Earth. Now researchers have discovered a new type of solid crystal that forms when water and table salt combine in cold, pressurized conditions. Researchers believe the new substance created in a lab on Earth could form at the surface and bottom of these worlds’ deep oceans.
May 3, 2022
Experiments measure freezing point of extraterrestrial oceans to aid search for life
![Europa Image](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/03122855/gal_eu2_48040-e1651606496388-150x146.jpg)
A planetary scientist worked with engineers to measure the physical limits of a liquid for salty water under high pressure. Results suggest where robotic missions should look for extraterrestrial life on the ice-covered oceans of Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Titan.
October 31, 2019
Washington’s first student-built satellite preparing for launch
![tall silver rectangle inside glass box that reads "flight hardware"](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/10/31135208/20190617_UW-Satellite-Lab-7-150x150.jpg)
After years of preparation, a tiny satellite built by UW students is scheduled to launch early Saturday, Nov. 2, from a NASA flight facility in Virginia. The launch will be broadcast live on NASA TV.
September 19, 2019
Plasma flow near sun’s surface explains sunspots, other solar phenomena
![orange sun with spots](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/09/18154357/sunspots_NASA_Goddard_SORCE-150x150.jpg)
A new model for plasma flow within the sun provides novel explanations for sunspots, the 11-year sunspot cycle, solar magnetic reversals and other previously unexplained solar phenomena.