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Jupiter's Hailstorms Create 'Mushballs' That Sink Ammonia

4/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study by Chris Moeckel at UC Berkeley uncovers that Jupiter's ferocious hailstorms generate "mushballs" that plunge ammonia deep into the planet's troposphere. Utilizing data from NASA's Juno probe and Hubble, this revelation not only clarifies ammonia's uneven spread on Jupiter but also hints at similar phenomena on other gas giants.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study by Chris Moeckel at UC Berkeley uncovers that Jupiter's ferocious hailstorms generate "mushballs" that plunge ammonia deep into the planet's troposphere. Utilizing data from NASA's Juno probe and Hubble, this revelation not only clarifies ammonia's uneven spread on Jupiter but also hints at similar phenomena on other gas giants.