Astronomers Propose New Definition of Planet
Established in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union, the current definition specifies that to qualify as a planet, a celestial body must orbit the Sun within our Solar System. But…
Scientists Revise Famous Drake Equation
Within the uncertainties of involved astronomical and biological parameters, the Drake equation typically predicts that there should be many exoplanets (< 100 to millions) in our Milky Way Galaxy hosting active,…
Study: Active, Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems on Small Ocean Worlds Could Support Life
Ocean worlds are planetary bodies that have a liquid ocean, often under an icy shell or within the rocky interior. In our own Solar System, several moons of Jupiter and…
Uninhabitable Venus Offers Lessons about Potential for Extraterrestrial Life
Fully understanding how a rocky planet becomes habitable and remains so is a fundamental challenge for planetary scientists and astrobiologists, given the diversity and complexity of intrinsic and extrinsic processes…
Scientists Recreate Extraterrestrial Atmospheric Hazes in the Lab
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has begun its scientific mission, which includes the atmospheric characterization of transiting exoplanets. Some of the first exoplanets to be observed by Webb have…
Novel AI Technique Reveals Sample’s Biological or Non-Biological Origin with 90% Accuracy
The search for definitive biosignatures — unambiguous markers of past or present life — is a central goal of paleobiology and astrobiology. A team of researchers led by the Carnegie…
Study: Plate Tectonics is not a Requirement for Life to Originate on Earth-Like Planet
Plate tectonics is a fundamental factor in the sustained habitability of Earth, but its time of onset is unknown, with ages ranging from the Hadean to Proterozoic eon. University of…
Humans Will Likely Not Have Ability to Visit Nearby Exoplanets Anytime Soon, Expert Says
Astronomers recently announced the discovery of TOI-700e, a habitable-zone, Earth-sized planet some 102 light-years away in the southern constellation of Dorado. Could this new discovery lead to humans one day…
Stars and Building Blocks of Their Planets ‘Grow Up’ Together, New Study Suggests
The timing and locations of formation of planetesimals — the building blocks of planets — are crucial to the understanding of planet formation. If we are to form larger planets…