Terrestrial extrasolar planets around low-mass stars are prime targets when searching for atmospheric biosignatures with current and near-future telescopes. The habitable-zone Super-Earth LHS 1140 b could hold a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere […]
biosignature
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Neptune
Methane As A Dominant Absorber In The Habitable-zone Sub-Neptune K2-18 b
In their Letter, Tsiaras et al.1 reported the detection of water vapour in the atmosphere of K2-18 b, an exoplanet of 7 to 10 Earth masses located in the habitable […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Spectropolarimetry Of Primitive Phototrophs As Global Surface Biosignatures
Photosynthesis is an ancient metabolic process that began on the early Earth, offering plentiful energy to organisms that utilize it, to the extent that they can achieve global significance. The […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release
KELT-11 b: Abundances Of Water And Constraints On Carbon-bearing Molecules From The Hubble Transmission Spectrum
In the past decade, the analysis of exoplanet atmospheric spectra has revealed the presence of water vapour in almost all the planets observed, with the exception of a fraction of […]
Posted inMars, Press Release
Meteorites Suggest Two Hydrogen Reservoirs Under Martian Surface
Data from Martian meteorites suggest the planet may have two hydrogen reservoirs beneath its surface, according to a recent study by NASA’s Astromaterials Exploration Research and Science (ARES) Division and […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release
The Phase-curve Signature Of Condensible Water-rich Atmospheres On Slowly Rotating Tidally Locked Exoplanets
We use an idealized three-dimensional general circulation model to study condensible-rich atmospheres with an ineffective cold trap on slowly rotating tidally locked terrestrial planets. In particular, we show the climate […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release
Abundant Atmospheric Methane From Volcanism On Terrestrial Planets Is Unlikely And Strengthens The Case For Methane As A Biosignature
The disequilibrium combination of abundant methane and carbon dioxide has been proposed as a promising exoplanet biosignature that is readily detectable with upcoming telescopes such as the James Webb Space […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Venus
Phosphine Detected In The Atmosphere of Venus – An Indicator of Possible Life?
Keith’s note: There is a big press release coming out tomorrow (Monday, 14 September) morning at the Royal Astronomical Society. They want you to know its big news. The press […]
Posted inMars, Press Release
4-billion-year-old Nitrogen-containing Organic Molecules Discovered In Martian Meteorites
A research team including research scientist Atsuko Kobayashi from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan and research scientist Mizuho Koike from the Institute of Space […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri b: A Strong Case for Including Cosmic-Ray-induced Chemistry in Atmospheric Biosignature Studies
Due to its Earth-like minimum mass of 1.27 ME and its close proximity to our Solar system, Proxima Centauri b is one of the most interesting exoplanets for habitability studies.