[astro-ph.EP] Helium is the second most abundant element in the Universe, yet helium-dominated atmospheres are rarely considered as environments for life.
atmosphere
Posted inVenus
The Lost Oceans Of Venus
[Earth and Planetary Science Letters] Whether Venus once had oceans and, if so, when it lost them are critical issues in the understanding of habitability on exoplanets, as well as […]
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology
Microbial Dispersion Via Aerosolization As An Evolutionary Trait
[Frontiers] Airborne dispersion of microorganisms is a constant ecologically significant global process.
![TiO absorption variation during 8 years on surface of proxima centauri. Vertical lines depicts regions were used to measure B index. -- [astro-ph.SR]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Titanium-Oxide.png?resize=1200%2C715&ssl=1)
Posted inProxima Centauri
Titanium Oxide Absorption as a Proxy to Detect Long term Variation and Activity Cycle in Proxima Centauri
[astro-ph.SR] Stellar activity cycles on magnetically active stars can be estimated by molecular absorption bands.
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Strict Limits On Helium Absorption From LHS 1140 b From Four JWST NIRISS Transits
[astro-ph.EP] Orbiting in the habitable zone of its host star, the 1.7 R⊕, 5.6 M⊕ planet LHS 1140 b is a target of great interest.
![Mapping of the science cases proposed by the Science Working Groups (center) to the questions and discovery areas identified by Astro2020 (left and right). The transparencies of the lines indicate the number of connections with darker lines indicating stronger links between the SWG and the Astro2020 topic. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Early-Exploration.png?resize=1200%2C711&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
Early Exploration Of The Scientific Discovery Space For The Habitable Worlds Observatory
[astro-ph.IM] The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a future NASA flagship mission concept identified by the Astro2020 Decadal Survey as the highest priority for large space missions. HWO should conduct […]
![Top left: (pgas, Tgas) cross-section through the terminators of WASP-69 b, with the location of the CH4 quench point overlaid (light blue line). We define the CH4 quench level as the pressure where the absolute relative difference between the equilibrium and disequilibrium concentrations first exceeds 10−3. Top right: Column densities in the line-of-sight direction in the atmosphere of WASP-69 b for [M/H] = 1.0, and C/O = 0.55 for CH44. Bottom: The same as for CH4 but now for SO2 (left) and CO2 (right). The terminator pressure scale is used as a radius axis. The hotspot offset at 10−4 bars is reflected in the column density of SO2, with larger concentrations being formed on the evening terminator. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chemical-Tracers.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Chemical Tracers For 3D Atmospheric Asymmetries On WASP-69 b
[astro-ph.EP] Warm giant exoplanets exhibit strong three-dimensional temperature contrasts that can significantly alter atmospheric chemistry through quenching and photochemistry, yet transmission spectra are commonly interpreted using one-dimensional, limb-averaged models. Such […]
Posted inVenus
Altered Cosmic Organics As Venus’ Ultraviolet Absorbers
[astro-ph.EP] Venus’ ultraviolet (UV) absorbers significantly contribute to the atmosphere’s energy budget. However, the composition of these absorbers remains a mystery.
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Atmospheric Diversity of Giant Planet Analogs from 3-5µm with SPHEREx
[astro-ph.EP]. The emergent spectra of giant planets peak at thermal infrared wavelengths (3-5um) and possess atmospheric features in this regime that trace carbon chemistry, vertical mixing, clouds, and composition.
Posted inMars
The Search for Life and Biosignatures on Mars: A Mars System Science Approach (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Lithosphere, Geologic History)
[Astrobiology (Journal)] The most important quest in Mars exploration is the search for biosignatures. We adopt a Mars System Science approach, calling on information from the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, […]