Newly discovered 'kiss and capture' mechanism explains the formation of Pluto and its largest moon

Jan. 6, 2025

Billions of years ago, two icy worlds collided. Rather than destroying each other in a cosmic catastrophe, they spun together like a celestial snowman, finally separating but remaining forever linked in orbit. This is how Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, originated, a U of A study finds.

News Tags

research

Astronomy

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

Science & Technology

space

The yucca and the moth: How extreme weather impacts the timing of biological events

A new study sheds light on how extreme weather events impact phenological processes, specifically the flight period of butterflies and moths and the flowering time of plants, with implications for food security in the wake of climate change.

Early Career U of A Scientist Receives Two Prestigious Awards

Kyle Seyler, an assistant professor of optical sciences, has received prestigious grants from the Department of Energy and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for his research on quantum materials using ultrafast laser light.

U of A ranks among world's best in physical sciences

The U of A's physical sciences programs are ranked 50th in the world and 11th among U.S. public colleges and universities in Times Higher Education's World University Rankings by Subject.