Habitability
Astronomers Define the “Really Habitable Zone”. Planets Capable of Producing Gin and Tonic
A hospitable star that doesn't kill you with deadly flares. A rocky planet with liquid water and an agreeable climate.…
How Will Clouds Obscure the View of Exoplanet Surfaces?
A new study shows how the presence of a cloud layer could make it harder for the James Webb Space…
Here’s What the Climate Might Look Like on Proxima Centauri B
NASA scientists have run simulations that show what the climate on Proxima b might be like, with encouraging results!
The Perfect Stars to Search for Life On Their Planets
We tend to think of our Earthly circumstances as normal. A watery, temperate world orbiting a stable yellow star. A…
TESS Finds its First Earth-Sized World in the Habitable Zone of a Star
NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) has found its first Earth-sized planet located in the habitable zone of its host…
Without a Magnetosphere, Planets Orbiting Flare Stars Don’t Stand a Chance
Earthlings are fortunate. Our planet has a robust magnetic shield. Without out magnetosphere, the Sun's radiation would've probably ended life…
Planet Sizes Matter for Habitability Too.
In order to be considered habitable, a planet needs to have liquid water. Cells, the smallest unit of life, need…
Venus Could Have Supported Life for Billions of Years
A new study by a team of NASA scientists indicates that Venus could have been habitable for billions of years…
NASA Promised More Smaller, Earth-size Exoplanets. TESS is Delivering.
When NASA launched TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) in 2018, it had a specific goal. While its predecessor, the Kepler…
Blankets of Silica Aerogel Could Make Parts of Mars Habitable
The idea of somehow terra-forming Mars to make it more habitable is a visionary, sci-fi dream. But though global terra-forming…