News
Europa’s Potential Geysers Are Extremely Dim
In 2013, the Hubble Space Telescope made a groundbreaking discovery when it spotted water vapor on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. This discovery hinted at the presence of plumes similar to those found on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, and provided compelling evidence for the existence of an ocean beneath Europa’s icy exterior. The idea that this ocean could potentially harbor life sparked excitement and speculation among scientists and the general public alike.
However, the ocean on Europa remains largely concealed under a thick layer of ice, making it difficult for scientists to directly study it. The plumes detected by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2013 have yet to be confirmed, adding another layer of mystery to Europa’s enigmatic environment.
The lead author of the paper that presented the 2013 evidence, Lorenz Roth of Southwest Research Institute, expressed enthusiasm about the potential implications of the discovery. He highlighted the possibility of investigating the chemical composition of Europa’s ocean without the need to drill through layers of ice, a development that he described as “tremendously exciting.”
Despite the optimism surrounding the discovery, scientists face significant challenges in locating and studying these elusive plumes. Joachim Saur of the University of Cologne, a co-author of the 2013 paper, described the plumes as “stealth plumes” that are faint and challenging to observe in visible light.
Recently, a team of researchers embarked on a mission to locate the plumes on Europa. Their findings, presented at the IAU Symposium 383, focused on using ALMA spectroscopy to search for active plumes on the moon. M.A. Cordiner from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center led the research effort.
Europa’s ocean, which constitutes a significant portion of the moon’s interior, presents an intriguing target in the search for extraterrestrial life. The researchers used ALMA to investigate molecular emissions from atmospheric plumes, shedding light on the potential chemistry and conditions within Europa’s ocean.
Europa’s unique composition, highlighted by its high density compared to other icy bodies, suggests a substantial rocky interior beneath its icy shell. This information, gathered from NASA’s Galileo mission, adds to the fascination surrounding Europa’s potential habitability.
In recent years, Europa has emerged as a prime target in the quest for life beyond Earth. Liquid water, a key ingredient for life as we know it, has positioned Europa’s ocean as a beacon of hope in our search for habitable environments. The plumes emanating from the moon’s ocean provide a vital pathway for studying its potential habitability.
Despite efforts by various telescopes to detect and confirm the plumes, concrete evidence remains elusive. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope in 2023 failed to identify active plumes, suggesting that any present-day activity on Europa may be localized and weak.
In their pursuit to locate the plumes, researchers deployed ALMA to observe Europa on multiple occasions, spanning different days to capture a comprehensive view of the moon’s surface. Despite their efforts, no plumes were detected through these observations.
While the absence of evidence might suggest low concentrations of certain molecules in Europa’s exosphere, the researchers emphasized the significance of setting detection limits to guide future investigations. This research underscores the value of continued efforts to unravel the mysteries of Europa’s ocean and potential habitability.
Despite the current setback, the researchers concluded that ALMA remains a powerful tool in the search for outgassing from icy bodies within the Solar System. Future endeavors to explore Europa and other icy bodies using ALMA hold promise in shedding light on the conditions and chemistry of these intriguing worlds.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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