An Earth-like planet orbiting an M dwarf — the most common type of star in the universe — appears to have no atmosphere at all. This discovery could cause a […]
TRAPPIST-1
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics, TRAPPIST-1
3D Modelling Of The Impact Of Stellar Activity On Tidally Locked Terrestrial Exoplanets: Atmospheric Composition And Habitability
Stellar flares present challenges to the potential habitability of terrestrial planets orbiting M dwarf stars through inducing changes in the atmospheric composition and irradiating the planet’s surface in large amounts […]
Posted inPress Release, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, TRAPPIST-1
Lower-than-expected Flare Temperatures For TRAPPIST-1
Although high energetic radiation from flares is a potential threat to exoplanet atmospheres and may lead to surface sterilization, it might also provide the extra energy for low-mass stars needed […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Innovative System Evaluates Habitability Of Distant Planets
The climate crisis presents a huge challenge to all people on Earth. It has led many scientists to look for exo-planets, planets outside our solar system that humans could potentially […]
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Evaluating The Plausible Range Of N2O Biosignatures On Exo-Earths: An Integrated Biogeochemical, Photochemical, And Spectral Modeling Approach
Nitrous oxide (N2O) — a product of microbial nitrogen metabolism — is a compelling exoplanet biosignature gas with distinctive spectral features in the near- and mid-infrared, and only minor abiotic […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
SPECULOOS Northern Observatory: Searching For Red Worlds In The Northern Skies
SPECULOOS is a ground-based transit survey consisting of six identical 1-m robotic telescopes. The immediate goal of the project is to detect temperate terrestrial planets transiting nearby ultracool dwarfs (late […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
SPECULOOS Discovers A Potentially Habitable Super-Earth
An international team of scientists, led by Laetitia Delrez, astrophysicist at the University of Liège (Belgium), has just announced the discovery of two ‘super-Earth’ type planets orbiting LP 890-9. Also […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
High-Resolution Spectral Models Of TRAPPIST-1e Seen As A Pale Blue Dot For ELT And JWST Observations
Rocky exoplanets orbiting in the habitable zone (HZ) of nearby M dwarfs provide unique opportunities for characterizing their atmospheres and searching for biosignature gases. TRAPPIST-1e, a temperate Earth-sized exoplanet in […]
Posted inPress Release, TRAPPIST-1
Greater Climate Sensitivity And Variability On TRAPPIST-1e Than Earth
The atmospheres of rocky exoplanets are close to being characterized by astronomical observations, in part due to the commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope. These observations compel us to […]
Posted inTRAPPIST-1
Bistability Of The Atmospheric Circulation On TRAPPIST-1e
Using a 3D general circulation model, we demonstrate that a confirmed rocky exoplanet and a primary observational target, TRAPPIST-1e presents an interesting case of climate bistability. We find that the […]