EAPS News

05-12-2026

Rubies and opals on Mars? The real treasure in the planet’s gemstones may not be what you think

Scientific American — NASA’s Mars rovers have found traces of minerals akin to those that make up precious gems on Earth. But their appearance and abundance on Mars is likely very different, experts say. EAPS's Candace Bedford was a co-author of the study.

05-12-2026

Purdue planetary scientist Ali Bramson wins 2026 Urey Prize

Ali Bramson, assistant professor in Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, has been named a winner of the 2026 Harold C. Urey Prize (“Urey Prize”) from the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences.

05-11-2026

Artemis astronauts may find remnants of a 'decapitated' asteroid's impact on the Moon

A violent impact that carved out the Moon's largest impact basin may have scattered deep lunar material near the lunar south pole — right where NASA plans to send Artemis astronauts. Using high-resolution 3D simulations, a team of researchers led by Shigeru Wakita of Purdue University found that SPA's distinctive tapered-ellipse shape is best explained by a 160-mile-wide (260-kilometer-wide) differentiated impactor — a large asteroid.

05-01-2026

Purdue researcher earns NOAA award to study the atmosphere's extreme large-scale patterns and extreme weather

A new federal award will help Purdue University researcher Lei Wang better understand the large-scale atmospheric patterns behind extreme weather events and improve the tools scientists use to study them.

04-30-2026

Purdue’s space work is featured at NASA Science Showcase

A Purdue professor and graduate student participated in the NASA Science Showcase recently on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The April 21 event highlighted how NASA-funded science research across disciplines strengthens America’s leadership and fuels the broader space program. Staff from many Senate and House of Representatives offices attended.

04-23-2026

Where did our Moon come from?

NPR — EAPS assistant professors Kelsey Prissel and Tabb Prissel were recently featured on NPR’s Short Wave podcast, discussing how the Moon formed and why lunar exploration and sample-return science matter. It’s a fun listen for everyone and a great example of how Purdue scientists are helping bring planetary science to the public.