Saturn losing rings at 'worst-case-scenario' rate
Saturn is losing its rings at a "worst-case-scenario" rate according to new research by NASA. The gas giant's iconic rings are being pulled into the planet by gravity as a dusty rain of ice particles under the influence of the planet's magnetic field."We estimate that this 'ring rain' drains an amount of water products that could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool from Saturn's rings in half an hour," said James O'Donoghue of NASA."From this alone, the entire ring system will be gone in 300 million years," Mr O'Donoghue added, but noted that actually the situation was far more dire.Measurements of ring-material detected falling into Saturn's equator by the Cassini spacecraft suggest that the rings actually have less than 100 million years to live. "This is relatively s...