The search for extraterrestrial life just got more interesting as a team of scientists including Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Christopher Glein has discovered new evidence for a key building block […]
habitability
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Could More Of Earth’s Surface Host Life?
Of all known planets, Earth is as friendly to life as any planet could possibly be — or is it? If Jupiter’s orbit changes, a new study shows Earth could […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Photobombing Earth 2.0: Diffraction Limit Related Contamination and Uncertainty in Habitable Planet Spectra
Observing habitable exoplanets that may resemble Earth is a key priority in astronomy that is dependent on not only detecting such worlds, but also ascertaining that apparent signatures of habitability […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Is Ozone A Reliable Proxy For Molecular Oxygen? I. The O2-O3 Relationship For Earth-like Atmospheres
Molecular oxygen (O2) paired with a reducing gas is regarded as a promising biosignature pair for the atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets. In circumstances when O2 may not be detectable […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Alternative Methylated Biosignatures I: Methyl Bromide, A Capstone Biosignature
Comparison of emission features for atmospheres with methylated biogenic gases around a K6V, M3.5Ve and M5V star. From top to bottom: CH3Cl, CH3Br, combination of CH3Cl and CH3Br for a […]
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 inHabitable Zones
Ancient Source Of Oxygen For Life Hidden Deep In The Earth's Crust
Scientists at Newcastle University have uncovered a source of oxygen that may have influenced the evolution of life before the advent of photosynthesis. The pioneering research project, led by Newcastle […]
Posted inHabitable Zones
Salty Ice And The Dilemma Of Ocean Exoplanet Habitability
Habitability of exoplanet’s deepest oceans could be limited by the presence of high-pressure ices at their base. New work demonstrates that efficient chemical transport within deep planetary ice mantles is […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Less Effective Hydrodynamic Escape Of H2-H2O Atmospheres On Terrestrial Planets Orbiting Pre-main Sequence M Dwarfs
Terrestrial planets currently in the habitable zones around M dwarfs likely experienced a long-term runaway greenhouse condition because of a slow decline in host-stellar luminosity in its pre-main sequence phase. […]
Posted inHabitable Zones
The Location Of Land On A Planet Can Affect Its Habitability
New climate models have found that the amount and location of land on a planet’s surface can significantly impact its habitability. Astronomers have identified substantial differences in surface temperature, sea […]