Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 3 days ago
Recent research spearheaded by Southwest Research Institute indicates that liquid nitrogen might be circulating beneath the vast Sputnik Planitia glacier on Pluto. Scientists examined images taken by NASA's New Horizons mission in 2015 and 2016, and uncovered dark surface features that may signify recent liquid movement. Sputnik Planitia exceeds the combined area of Texas and Oklahoma, while Pluto's diameter is approximately three-quarters that of the continental United States. Computational models propose that nitrogen ice located several kilometers below the surface might melt and ascend through narrow channels. Additional high-resolution mapping could uncover whether similar processes are occurring in other regions of Pluto.

Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using Al-assisted tools.
ai-generated
Transcript
00:00Scientists may have found liquid beneath Pluto's icy surface.
00:03The discovery centers on Pluto's famous heart-shaped glacier.
00:07Researchers studied images from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft.
00:12They found unusual dark markings across the frozen terrain.
00:16The region is called Sputnik Planitia.
00:18Its massive glacier is larger than Texas and Oklahoma combined.
00:23Scientists believe liquid nitrogen could be hiding underneath.
00:26Deep below, nitrogen ice may melt under pressure.
00:30The liquid could then rise through narrow cracks.
00:33It may briefly flow across Pluto's frozen surface.
00:36That movement could explain the mysterious dark streaks.
00:40Researchers say this could be the first evidence of recent liquid flow on Pluto.
00:44They compared the features with icy regions in Greenland.
00:48But much of Pluto remains unexplored at high resolution.
00:52Future observations could reveal similar activity elsewhere.
00:55For now, Pluto is proving once again that this distant world is full of surprises.
01:01Disclosure.
01:01This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
01:06The way to do this is to make sure that this is a very interesting one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important one is the most important
01:06one
Comments

Recommended