Bruce Dorminey

A little known French national laboratory is using a unique method of optical analysis to identify the mineralogy of a pristine sample from the asteroid Bennu.

Early Bennu Sample Analysis Shows Surprises, Says French Cosmochemist A little known French national laboratory is using a unique method of optical analysis to identify the mineralogy of a pristine sample from the asteroid Bennu.

Great meeting Guy Libourel, a cosmochemistry scientist at Nice Observatory, pictured with me at Le Centre de Recherche pour l’Hétéro-Epitaxie et ses Applications (CRHEA) this afternoon in Valbonne.

Libourel, a co-principal investigator on NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, is holding a tiny 4.567 billion-year old sample from the asteroid Bennu.
More to come on Forbes.

Great interviewing Nice Observatory astrophysicist Patrick Michel, a director of research with the CNRS, on a cool December afternoon. More to come on Forbes.

On the verge of the 2023 international climate change conference in Dubai, Europe is hard at work on completing a space-based solar power feasibility study.

Europe’s COP 28 Climate Change Goals Should Include Space-Based Solar Power On the verge of the 2023 international climate change conference in Dubai, Europe is hard at work on completing a space-based solar power feasibility study.

Biologists here on Earth have only classified a tiny fraction of subsurface microbial life, says a prominent geomicrobiologist. And before we can truly look for life on Mars, we need to better understand microbial life on our own planet.

Microbial ‘Dark Matter’ Still Eludes Earth’s Astrobiologists Biologists here on Earth have only classified a tiny fraction of sub surface microbial life, says a prominent geomicrobiologist.

ESA’s Euclid mission to study the dark universe is in its final phase of testing before it begins routine science operations.

Despite Snafus, ESA’s Euclid Should Start Routine Science In January ESA’s Euclid mission to study the dark universe is in its final phase of testing before it begins routine science operations.

Great meeting Catania Astrophysical Observatory (CAO) director Isabella Pagano and CAO postdoctoral researcher Sylvain Breton today. That's Mount Etna behind us in the background. More to come on Forbes.

Great interviewing Xavier Roser, product line manager for exploration, science and in orbit services, at Thales Alenia Space on this unusually mild and beautiful mid-November afternoon. More to come on Forbes.

Astrobiologists Head Underground To Learn How To Look For Life On Mars The hunt for life on Mars has already begun in the hollowed-out lava tubes of some of the world’s most desolate volcanic islands.

A few shots from ESA's Euclid mission early image release today here in Darmstadt. First time I've visited their space operations center. Just posted a quick Forbes post. Another to follow.

ESA’s Euclid observatory early image release delighted astronomers at a press event today in Germany. The mission expects to begin routine action in January.

ESA’s Euclid Mission Stuns Researchers With Quality Of First Images ESA’s Euclid observatory early image release delighted astronomers at a press event today in Germany. The mission expects to begin routine action in January.

How best to send humans to Mars? The choice centers either on a Mars Direct approach or first installing a so-called Mars-orbiting Base Camp to use as a jumping off point for missions to the red planet’s surface.

Why Lockheed Thinks Its Mars Orbiting Base Camp Is Worth The Wait How best to send humans to Mars? The choice centers either on a Mars Direct approach or a so-called Mars-orbiting Base Camp to use as a jumping off point.

High tech gamma ray instrument should help NASA determine whether the metal-rich asteroid Psyche is either an ancient stripped planetary core or something altogether unknown.

NASA Begins Its Years-Long Journey To A Bizarre, Metal Rich Asteroid High tech gamma ray instrument should help NASA determine whether the metal-rich asteroid Psyche is an ancient stripped planetary core.

Migratory birds can wind up way off course due to geomagnetic storms caused by solar disturbances, says new paper.

Space Weather Can Wreak Havoc On Seasonal Bird Migration Migratory birds can wind up way off course due to geomagnetic storms caused by solar disturbances, says new paper.

Our Moon’s record of earliest planetary bombardment has been mostly wiped clean, says a comprehensive recent study. Asteroids, not comets, did most of the damage.

Our Moon’s Earliest Impact History Is Still A Puzzle Our Moon’s record of earliest planetary bombardment has been mostly wiped clean, says a comprehensive recent study. Asteroids, not comets, did most of the damage.

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Our solar system’s formation was probably very late to the galactic party, says a new paper. As a result, we may be surrounded by habitable exo-systems teeming with extraordinarily old microbial life.

Nearby Exoplanets May Harbor 8-Billion-Year-Old Microbial Life We may be surrounded by habitable exo-systems teeming with extraordinarily old microbial life, says new paper.

Astronomers are making strides in better understanding the threat posed from potentially Earth-impacting Oort Cloud comets.

Why High Inclination Comets Could Be Earth’s Real Threat Astronomers are making strides in better understanding the threat posed from potentially Earth-impacting Oort Cloud comets.

Silkworms have long spurred exploration on Earth and may have a role to play on long term missions in space.

Do Silkworms Have A Future In Space? Silkworms have long spurred exploration on Earth and may have a role to play on long term missions in space.

Estonia Building Instrument Probe To Sample Venus’ Atmosphere Estonia’s Tartu Observatory is building an instrument to sample Venus’ atmosphere for habitability. Part of an MIT-led initiative, it should arrive at Venus by 2031.

I’m pleased and honored to announce that I have been named a Forbes Senior Contributor!
I am thankful to all my loyal friends and followers who continue to read my posts. My thanks to the whole editorial team at Forbes.com for all their support and this new recognition.

Reconstructed ancient plant protein should help crops counter the ongoing rise in global temperatures, says Cornell University plant biologist.

Ancient Plant Protein Could Create Climate-Resilient Crops Reconstructed ancient plant protein should help crops counter the ongoing rise in global temperatures, says Cornell University plant biologist.

Long a staple of science fiction, in reality, Jupiter’s large moon of Callisto is poorly understood.

Jupiter’s Forgotten Moon Of Callisto Remains A Planetary Enigma Long a staple of science fiction, in reality, Jupiter’s large moon of Callisto is poorly understood and largely ignored by the planetary science community.

I want to encourage all my friends to subscribe to Judy and Kevin Hoctor's YouTube channel. Thanks to them both for the nice 'shout out' in this episode! I actually write at least 5 posts per month for Forbes.com. Keep up the great work guys! https://youtu.be/rY3-fHrzqa8?si=YNVc5vtqK-mhOiQM

FRENCH RIVERA Travel Guide to Antibes, Nice, and Cagnes-sur-Mer Ep.60 There’s more to the South of France besides the beaches. We show off the beauty and bustle of Nice and Antibes and bring you along on our tours of the ...

For those who missed this post from earlier in the summer, here it is once more. My most recent post on Oppenheimer was inspired by this heavy water story. Many thanks for your continued readership!

Hitler’s Limited Intellect Helped Allies Dodge Atomic Bullet, Say Researchers Could N**i Germany have really beaten the Allies to a nuclear weapon? The question is still a matter of debate.

American physicist Robert Oppenheimer needed more than sheer brilliance to forge the world’s first atomic weapon. He also used a timeless set of leadership skills.

Life Lessons From J Robert Oppenheimer American physicist Robert Oppenheimer needed more than sheer brilliance to forge the world’s first atomic weapon. He also used a timeless set of leadership skills.

ESA’s Comet Interceptor mission due for launch in 2029 will examine a pristine Oort Cloud comet from the outer fringes of our solar system.

Estonia Building Imager For ESA Mission To Intercept Pristine Comet ESA’s Comet Interceptor mission due for launch in 2029 will examine a pristine Oort Cloud comet from the outer fringes of our solar system.

Ireland gets serious about space science with the coming launch of its first CubeSat.

Ireland’s First Satellite Will Shake Up Hunt For Cosmic Gamma Ray Bursts Ireland gets serious about space science with the coming launch of its first CubeSat. The idea is to look for gamma ray bursts in a cheaper, more efficient manner.

NASA’s InSight Mars Lander provides precision details on the red planet’s accelerating rotation and how Mars is wobbling on its axis over a period of days and months.

Mars’ Rotation Rate Is Mysteriously Accelerating, Says NASA NASA’s InSight Mars Lander provides precision details on the red planet’s accelerating rotation and how Mars is wobbling on its axis over a period of days and months.

High levels of atmospheric oxygen here on Earth were key to the long-term development of technology, say astronomers. But will other Earths be so lucky?

High Tech Aliens Will Need Goldilocks Levels Of Atmospheric Oxygen, Say Astronomers High levels of atmospheric oxygen here on Earth were key to the long-term development of technology, say astronomers. But will other Earths be so lucky?

The former Soviet republic of Estonia continues its tradition of astronomical innovation. Estonia’s Tartu Observatory is playing a key role in a forthcoming European Southern Observatory (ESO) Southern sky survey.

Game-Changing ESO Sky Survey Could Rewrite History Of Milky Way The former Soviet republic of Estonia continues its tradition of astronomical innovation. Tartu Observatory is playing a key role in a forthcoming ESO sky survey.

Bizarre rocky exoworld --- with what appears to be a normal day-night cycle --- orbits so close to its parent star that the morning heat melts its surface.

Crazy, Close-Orbiting Lava World May Still Have Day-Night Cycles, Says Astronomer Bizarre rocky exoworld —- with what appears to be a normal day-night cycle —- orbits so close to its parent star that the morning heat melts its surface.

Swedish astronomers continue the hunt for the ever-elusive hypothetical Dyson spheres. Such alien-built spheres would be capable of completely harnessing a whole star’s energy.

E.T. Might Even Harness Nearby Red Dwarfs Using Dyson Spheres Swedish astronomers continue the hunt for hypothetical Dyson spheres. Such alien-built spheres would be capable of completely harnessing a whole star’s energy.

Tiny bacterial spores may hold the key to finding life on the far-flung icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

Bacterial Spores May Thrive On The Icy Moons Of Jupiter And Saturn Tiny bacterial spores may hold the key to finding life on the far-flung icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, says recent research.

Could N**i Germany have really beaten the Allies to a nuclear weapon? Likely not.

Hitler’s Limited Intellect Helped Allies Dodge Atomic Bullet, Say Researchers Could N**i Germany have really beaten the Allies to a nuclear weapon? The question is still a matter of debate.

Great meeting Elmo Tempel, Laila Kaasik and Mihkel Pajusalu of Tartu Observatory this afternoon. All three are working on future projects that range well beyond Estonia's borders and should have great impact on both astrobiology and astronomy. Thanks to the three for their time today.

As a child of the Cold War, it was also fascinating to hear that Tartu Observatory was once quite active in designing equipment and instruments for Soviet-era space missions. Although I have visited Eastern bloc countries both before and after the demise of the Iron Curtain, this trip marks the first time I've ever set foot in a former Soviet republic. It's heartening to see first hand that some thirty plus years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia is thriving and at the forefront of space technology research.

Earthlike exoplanets need more than oxygenic photosynthesis to create an oxygen-rich atmosphere, researchers now say. Photosynthesis will be necessary, but it’s not enough.

Will Photosynthesis Be Common On Other Earthlike Planets? Earthlike exoplanets need more than oxygenic photosynthesis to create an oxygen-rich atmosphere, researchers now say. Photosynthesis is necessary but not enough.

Will Europe Do An End Run Around NASA’s Mars Sample Return? Europe is on the hunt for life on Mars and its forthcoming rover could detect the biosignatures of either past or present life before NASA’s Mars sample return mission.

Great meeting Alexis Brandeker, an astronomer at Stockholm University, this afternoon for an interesting discussion on exoplanetary science. More to come on Forbes.