![Left: Sensitivity of TESS to transits in the full sample of single-star TOIs. Center: The sensitivity for all binary stars in our sample, with all planets presumed to transit the brighter star. Right: As with the top-center panel, except that all planets are assumed to transit the fainter star. The sensitivity of TESS to small planets around binary hosts is substantially lower than for single-star hosts, especially when the planet transits the secondary star.-- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-sensitivity.png?resize=1200%2C722&ssl=1)
[astro-ph.EP] High resolution imaging with optical speckle interferometry has revealed that many transiting exoplanet host stars possess close-in stellar companions.
Spectroscopy
![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 […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Astrochemistry: A Cosmic Recycling System In Action In The Helix Nebula
[Northwestern University] An international team of scientists, including Northwestern University astrophysicists, has captured an unprecedented view of a dying star’s remains in the act of being recycled.
![Representative spectral energy distribution fits for four HWO ExEP target stars: HD 2151 (upper left), HD 3651 A (upper right), HD 4813 (lower left), and HD 10700 (lower right). In each panel, the solid curve represents the best-fitting Pickles (1998) template spectrum, and the filled circles show the broadband photometry with associated uncertainties. Photometric error bars are shown in the y-direction, and filter widths in the x-direction. Fractional residuals between the template flux averaged over each bandpass and the literature photometry are shown in the lower sub-panels. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Spectral-Energy.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis For Habitable Worlds Observatory Target Stars
[astro-ph.EP] The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will directly image and characterize planets potentially similar to Earth orbiting nearby stars.
![Observed spectra compared to laboratory data for CO (left), 13CO2 (middle), and H2O (right) ices on carbonaceous dust analogs. -- [astro-ph.GA]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Molecule-specific.png?resize=1200%2C606&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry
Molecule-specific Diffusion And Desorption Of Interstellar Ices On Carbonaceous Dust
[astro-ph.GA] Interstellar ices form on dust grains in the coldest regions of molecular clouds and preserve key volatile reservoirs that could be incorporated into protoplanetary disks during star and planet […]
![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 inBiosignatures & Paleobiology
Molecular Assembly As A Universal Biosignature Measurable By Mass Spectrometry
[PNAS] Detecting life beyond Earth requires biosignatures that do not depend on the chemistry of known organisms.