The current progress in the detection of terrestrial type exoplanets has opened a new avenue in the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres and in the search for biosignatures of life with […]
space weather
Posted inBarnard's Star, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics
Stellar Activity Analysis of Barnard's Star
The search for Earth-like planets around late-type stars using ultra-stable spectrographs requires a very precise characterization of the stellar activity and the magnetic cycle of the star, since these phenomena […]
Posted inPress Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics
Exploring Extreme Space Weather Factors of Exoplanetary Habitability
It is currently unknown how common life is on exoplanets, or how long planets can remain viable for life. To date, we have a superficial notion of habitability, a necessary […]
Posted inPress Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics
Space Weather and Its Impact on Habitable Worlds
The search of life in the Universe is a fundamental problem of astrobiology and a major priority for NASA. A key area of major progress since the NASA Astrobiology Strategy […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, Proxima Centauri, Space Weather & Heliophysics
The Space Weather of Proxima Centauri b
A planet orbiting in the “habitable zone” of our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri, has recently been discovered, and the next natural question is whether or not Proxima b is […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics
Stellar Magnetism, Winds and Their Effects on Planetary Environments
I review some recent works on magnetism of cool, main-sequence stars, their winds and potential impact on surrounding exoplanets. The winds of these stars are very tenuous and persist during […]
Posted inOrigin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Solar Storms May Have Been Key to Life on Earth
Our sun’s adolescence was stormy-and new evidence shows that these tempests may have been just the key to seeding life as we know it. Some 4 billion years ago, the […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release, Radiation
Shielding From The Solar Wind: Implications for Habitability
The onset and nature of the earliest geomagnetic field is important for understanding the evolution of the core, atmosphere andlife on Earth. A record of the early geodynamo is preserved […]