I have been fascinated by the magic island phenomena since grad school and saw the whole evolution of people trying to explain it - so it is really exciting for me to contribute to the problem a bit myself! Check out our paper here: doi.org/10.1029/2023...

9/9 The other nice thing is that the small particles that sink quickly, as a result of constant atmospheric infalls, may be efficient wave dampeners to explain why Titan’s lakes are so ghostly smooth - a study that our group is working on with new laboratory data. So stay tuned!

8/9 But what could produce such large, buoyant chunks? Our eyes turn to processes like runoff from nearby lands or the transient cryovolcanic activities similar to Earth's pumice rafts. #Geology #Volcanology

7/9 Our findings? Small particles sink almost instantly, but larger ones with enough internal voids can float longer, trapping gases and extending their floatation time. This aligns with how long we've observed the magic islands to last. #PlanetaryGeology #TitanResearch

6/9 Porosity is like buoyancy's secret weapon; it helps solids to float. The surface tension effects can also help specific materials like hydrogen cyanide to float. However, getting the floating duration right is tricky. #MaterialsScience

5/9 To be a candidate floating raft, materials must: 1) float and 2) the right flotation duration — not too short or long, mirroring the observed lifespan of the magic islands. We found many materials that could float, but their flotation duration was key to fit the observations.

4/9 To evaluate the candidate material for the magic islands, we need extensive data on everything that falls onto Titan's surface. It took us 3 years to compile all the data we needed into a Titan Material Property Database titanmaterials.sites.ucsc.edu 🧪🔬#OpenScience #ResearchData

3/9 Titan is a treasure trove of planetary materials, constantly raining down a cocktail of organics on the hydrocarbon lakes and seas, from simple ones like benzene and hydrogen cyanide to complex organics that make Titan’s thick layers. #Astrochemistry #PlanetaryMaterials

2/9 Many theories suggest these might be "phantom islands" — merely roughened surfaces indicating waves or bubbles. But our study explores the possibility of them being actual floating chunks of... something - floating on liquid methane and ethane? #ScienceThread #Astronomy

1/9 Imagine a serene Titan lake, waveless, with islands nearby. Suddenly, an "island" appears and vanishes. Known as magic islands, these transient bright patches spotted by Cassini Radar have left us wondering... are they real or mere illusions? 🛰️🏝️ #Cassini #PlanetaryScience