Tag

Helium

All articles tagged with #helium

space6 days ago•158 min saved

Helium Emerges from the Sun: 1868 Eclipse Unveils a New Element

On Aug. 18, 1868, during a total solar eclipse in India, French astronomer Pierre Janssen used a spectroscope to observe a bright yellow line not matching any known element, signaling the discovery of helium; English astronomer Norman Lockyer independently identified the same line as a new element, later named helium after Helios. This was the first time spectroscopy revealed an element in an astronomical object before it was found on Earth, and helium would later prove essential for spaceflight and stellar physics.

via Space|

#helium #janssen #lockyer

space20 days ago•12 min saved

The Moon’s Fragile Exosphere: A Gas Cloud Disturbed by Lander Plumes

The Moon hosts a real but incredibly thin exosphere—mostly helium, neon, and argon—about a quadrillionth as dense as Earth's sea-level air. The gas is continually replenished and lost via solar wind, micrometeoroids, and surface processes, and can be locally overwhelmed by a nearby lander's exhaust, making contamination a key challenge for future measurements. LADEE data first detected neon and showed the exosphere varies with local time, underscoring that there is no stable atmosphere, only a dynamic, surface-interacting gas population that records both solar and lunar history.

via Space Daily|

#argon #helium #ladee

space25 days ago•200 min saved

Rocky World LHS 1140b Might Harbor an Atmosphere, Scientists Say

Scientists report promising signs that the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b, about 49 light-years away in its star’s habitable zone, could have an atmosphere after detecting helium during a transit, a hint that it may have lost its hydrogen but retained helium and possibly other gases. If confirmed, this would make LHS 1140b the first known rocky planet in a habitable zone with an atmosphere, a major step for habitability studies. However, a 2025 follow-up failed to re-detect helium, so further observations with JWST and Hubble are planned to confirm the signal and search for other atmospheric components such as water.

via CNN|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

space1 month ago•5 min saved

Helium Signals Long-Lived Atmosphere on Rocky Exoplanet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers detected a helium escape signal from LHS 1140 b, a rocky planet in its star’s habitable zone about 48 light-years away, confirming it retains an atmosphere that may have persisted for billions of years and making it a prime target for studying Earth-like atmospheres from the ground.

via ScienceDaily|

#atmosphere #exoplanet #habitable-zone

science1 month ago•10 min saved

Helium Clues Hint at Earth-like Atmosphere on Distant World LHS 1140b

New observations of exoplanet LHS 1140b—a nearby super-Earth—hint at a helium-rich upper atmosphere and possible Earth-like conditions, based on helium-loss signals observed by Cherubim and colleagues. At ~49 light-years away, orbiting a dim red dwarf with a ~25-day period, direct observations are unlikely for now, but if confirmed the finding would place LHS 1140b on the short list of promising habitable exoplanets.

via Hackaday|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable

space1 month ago•105 min saved

Helium clues reveal atmosphere on rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone

Astronomers detected helium escaping from the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140 b, providing the strongest evidence yet that a terrestrial world in another star’s habitable zone can retain an atmosphere. The signal was observed as the planet transited its star using the WINERED spectrograph, indicating a thin upper atmosphere and enabling atmospheric study of potentially habitable worlds, though it does not prove habitability. Future observations will aim to characterize the rest of the atmosphere and investigate whether oceans or other life-friendly features might exist on LHS 1140 b.

via Live Science|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

science1 month ago•46 min saved

Atmosphere detected around rocky exoplanet in star's habitable zone

Researchers have detected helium in the upper atmosphere of LHS 1140 b, a rocky planet about 48 light-years away in the habitable zone of a red dwarf, marking the first confirmed atmosphere around an Earth-like world outside our solar system; while helium alone wouldn’t support life, the finding shows such planets can retain atmospheres and may host other gases deeper down, bringing us a step closer to identifying habitable worlds.

via Yahoo|

#atmosphere #exoplanet #habitable-zone

space1 month ago•3 min saved

Helium Atmosphere Detected on Earth-like Exoplanet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers report the first detection of an atmosphere on a rocky, Earth-like exoplanet in the habitable zone of a distant star: LHS 1140 b, located 48 light-years away. The gas confirmed so far is helium, likely in the upper atmosphere, with the possibility of other gases deeper down. While not evidence of life, the find marks a major step toward assessing whether Earth-like worlds could host life beyond our solar system.

via BBC|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

science-space1 month ago•5 min saved

Helium escapes hint at atmosphere on rocky world in habitable zone

Astronomers observing LHS 1140b, a rocky planet in its star’s habitable zone, detected helium escaping from its outer atmosphere, suggesting it has a helium-rich atmosphere and may host conditions suitable for life; the inner atmospheric composition and actual presence of water aren’t confirmed, and findings require replication with future observations.

via Nature|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Nearby Rocky World LHS 1140-b Reveals Helium Atmosphere in Habitable Zone

Scientists detected a helium-dominated atmosphere around the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140-b, a planet in the habitable zone about 48 light-years away, marking the first direct evidence that such worlds can retain an atmosphere and potentially host liquid water and Earth-like life. The finding comes from WINERED observations on the Magellan telescope and suggests atmospheric escape can vary over time, while a nearby planet (LHS 1140-c) shows no atmosphere.

via 404 Media|

#atmosphere #exoplanet #habitable-zone

space1 month ago•108 min saved

Helium Signal Confirms Atmosphere on Earth-Like Exoplanet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers directly detected helium in the atmosphere of the rocky, Earth-like exoplanet LHS 1140 b, making it the first confirmed atmosphere on a rocky world in the habitable zone. Using the WINERED spectrograph on the Magellan telescope, the planet’s transit spectra reveal an atmosphere that could potentially harbor liquid water with greenhouse effects. The 48‑light‑year‑away planet orbits a red dwarf and appears to have retained its atmosphere over billions of years, challenging assumptions about atmospheric loss around active stars. While not a life-detection, the finding marks a major advance in understanding habitability on rocky exoplanets and guides future observations.

via Space|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

world-news1 month ago•7 min saved

China imposes temporary helium export ban to safeguard chip supply amid Middle East tensions

China has issued an immediate, temporary export ban on helium to prevent domestic shortages as renewed Middle East fighting threatens supplies used in semiconductor manufacturing. Helium is essential for chip cooling and production; China imports about 85%+ of its helium, with Qatar a major supplier. The move aligns with Beijing’s push to boost domestic chip production and reduce dependence on Nvidia tech under US controls, and could tighten global helium supply since Chinese firms also re-export helium.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#china #export-ban #helium

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Helium: The Sun's Element That Was Found Before Earth

During the 1868 solar eclipse, Janssen’s spectroscope revealed a bright yellow line in the Sun’s spectrum that did not match any known Earth element, leading Lockyer to propose a new element named helium after Helios; it wasn’t isolated on Earth until Ramsay’s 1895 work, making helium the only element discovered in space before it was found on Earth and showcasing how spectroscopy lets astronomers read distant chemistry.

via Space Daily|

#helium #janssen #ramsay

investing4 months ago•22 min saved

Helium Shortage Could Turn Exxon Into a Quiet Chipmaker Winner

Geopolitical shocks have knocked out roughly a third of global helium supply, driving up prices for ultra-high-purity gas essential to semiconductor manufacturing. ExxonMobil’s Shute Creek gas plant in Wyoming now stands as a major helium supplier (about 20% of global supply) with long-run reserves, giving the company a potential margin tailwind as chipmakers like TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix rely on helium. The upgrade in helium pricing could boost Exxon’s cash flow and dividend appeal, making it a safer play than pure helium peers. Investors are cautioned to consider a position on dips (e.g., below about $165) as the shortage unfolds.

via 24/7 Wall St.|

#dividends #exxonmobil #helium

business4 months ago•2 min saved

Nvidia Faces Helium-Driven Supply Risk

Nvidia is portrayed as a Sell due to helium shortages and credit market stress threatening GPU supply and demand; roughly 30% of global helium supply has been disrupted by Middle East conflict, impacting semiconductor and HBM production; the stock trades at about 11x forward sales, well above the sector median, with inflation risks and questionable ability to sustain 74% EPS growth; limited helium recycling and slow supply-chain adaptation raise the risk of margin compression and missed growth.

via Seeking Alpha|

#business #helium #nvda