Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

At A Glance

  • Astronomers Discover Hidden Moon Orbiting Uranus: JWST detects a hidden 6-mile moon (S/2025 U1), raising Uranus’ total to 29 and shedding light on its complex ring–moon system.

  • The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Is a Roller Coaster of Hope and Disappointment: Scientific American profiles Nathalie Cabrol on how 5,900+ exoplanets shift the odds for life beyond Earth.

  • Scientists Think They Have Found a Brand-New Mineral on Mars: Janice Bishop’s team identifies an unusual ferric hydroxysulfate in Valles Marineris, hinting at volcanic–aqueous interactions.

  • Are We Alone? with Jill Tarter: On StarTalk, Jill Tarter reflects on technosignatures, the Drake Equation, and the evolving search for intelligent life.

From tracking a rare interstellar visitor to revealing hidden star systems, the SETI Institute is at the forefront of space science. Explore four recent stories showcasing our role in groundbreaking discoveries and global scientific collaboration.

Astronomers Discover Hidden Moon Orbiting Uranus

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered a previously unknown Uranian moon, S/2025 U1, just 6 miles wide. The finding raises the planet’s known moon count to 29 and offers new insight into Uranus’ rings and their origins. CNN and others covered the story, highlighting contributions from SETI Institute scientist Dr. Matthew Tiscareno, who noted the unusual complexity of Uranus’ inner moons and rings: “Their inter-relationships hint at a chaotic history that blurs the boundary between a ring system and a system of moons.”

Read the full story by CNN here: Astronomers discover hidden moon orbiting Uranus

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Is a Roller Coaster of Hope and Disappointment

Scientific American recently published an article that explored the search for extraterrestrial life, tracing the story from 19th-century Martian “canals” to modern exoplanet discoveries. The piece features Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, astrobiologist and Director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute, who reflects on how the discovery of thousands of planets beyond our solar system have transformed the SETI Institute’s outlook: “Planets became the rule, not the exception.” With more than 5,900 confirmed exoplanets,and more than 15,000 exoplanet candidates awaiting confirmation, the discovery of so many worlds is reshaping the way we think about where life might exist in the universe.

Read the full story by Scientific American here: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Is a Roller Coaster of Hope and Disappointment

Scientists Think They Have Found a Brand-New Mineral on Mars

A team led by SETI Institute astrobiologist Dr. Janice Bishop identified what may be an entirely new mineral on Mars. Using orbital data and lab experiments, the researchers studied sulfate-rich deposits near Valles Marineris—an ancient canyon thought to have once hosted water. They discovered an unusual ferric hydroxysulfate compound that forms only in the presence of oxygen and heat, hinting at past volcanic activity. If confirmed, this would mark a brand-new mineral, offering vital clues about Mars’ dynamic surface history and its potential to have once supported life.

Read the story by Gizmodo: Scientists Think They Have Found a Brand-New Mineral on Mars

Are We Alone? with Jill Tarter

Are we alone in the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen sit down with one of the founders of the SETI Institute, Dr. Jill Tarter, to explore the search for intelligent life beyond Earth, technosignatures, The Drake Equation, and more.

Listen to the whole episode here: Are we alone? with Jill Tarter

News

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SETI Institute In the News: June Roundup 2026
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The SETI Institute and ETH Zurich join forces to search for the origin of life
ETH Zurich and the SETI Institute announced a strategic scientific partnership today. The US-based research organization will provide start-up funding for a new assistant professorship and associated research activities at ETH Zurich.
#Press Releases #SETI Institute #Partnerships #ETH Zurich #Bill Diamond
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SETI Institute Achievements: Q2 2026 Activity Report
During the second quarter of 2026, the SETI Institute was especially active and made strong progress in research, education, outreach, and public engagement. Our scientists published over 80 peer-reviewed papers in fields such as SETI, astrobiology, planetary science, exoplanets, and heliophysics.
#Activity Reports #Carl Sagan Center #Outreach #Education #AIR #Community #Research #SETI Institute
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Look Up: A Lunar Eclipse on August 27
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SETI Institute In the News: June Roundup 2026
Throughout June 2026, SETI Institute scientists, affiliates, and collaborators contributed to discussions spanning interstellar visitors, planetary science, technosignature searches, animal cognition, and the scientific process guiding the search for life beyond Earth.
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Two SETI Institute Scientists Honored with Asteroids Bearing Their Names
#Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids #Ariel Graykowski #Matthew Tiscareno #Planetary Astronomy #Solar System #Saturn
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Research

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Virtual Planetary Laboratory
How can we best assess whether an exoplanet supports life?
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