A Red Dwarf Blasts off a Superflare. Any Life on its Planets Would Have a Very Bad Day

By Evan Gough October 19, 2018
A Red Dwarf Blasts off a Superflare. Any Life on its Planets Would Have a Very Bad Day

"When I realized the sheer amount of light the superflare emitted, I sat looking at my computer screen for quite some time just thinking, 'Whoa.'" - Parke Loyd, Arizona State University.

"This means that we're looking at superflares happening every day or even a few times a day." - Parke Loyd, Arizona State University.

"Flares like we observed have the capacity to strip away the atmosphere from a planet. But that doesn't necessarily mean doom and gloom for life on the planet." - Parke Loyd, University of Arizona.

"I don't think we know for sure one way or another about whether planets orbiting red dwarfs are habitable just yet, but I think time will tell." - Evgenya Shkolnik, Arizona State University.

Sources:

  • Arizona State University Press Release: "ASU Astronomers Catch Red Dwarf Star in a Superflare Outburst"

  • Research Paper: HAZMAT. IV. FLARES AND SUPERFLARES ON YOUNG M STARS IN THE FAR ULTRAVIOLET

  • Wikipedia Entry: Red Dwarf

  • NASA Press Release: "Superflares From Young Red Dwarf Stars Imperil Planets"

  • NASA Press Release: "Flares May Threaten Planet Habitability Near Red Dwarfs"

    • Evan Gough

    Evan Gough

    Evan Gough is a science-loving guy with no formal education who loves Earth, forests, hiking, and heavy music. He's guided by Carl Sagan's quote: "Understanding is a kind of ecstasy."