How can we know if we"re looking at habitable exo-Earths or hellish exo-Venuses?
The differences between Earth and Venus are obvious to us. One is radiant with life and adorned with glittering seas, and the other is a scorching, glowering hellhole, its volcanic surface shrouded by thick clouds and visible only with radar. But the.....»»
Could life survive on frigid exo-Earths? Maybe under ice sheets
Our understanding of habitability relies entirely on the availability of liquid water. All life on Earth needs it, and there's every indication that life elsewhere needs it, too......»»
NASA Moon capsule Orion due to splash down after record-setting voyage
After making a close pass at the Moon and venturing further into space than any previous habitable spacecraft, NASA's Orion capsule is due to splash down Sunday in the final test of a high-stakes mission called Artemis......»»
Where did the Earth"s oxygen come from? New study hints at an unexpected source
The amount of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere makes it a habitable planet......»»
Scientists may have finally figured out why Venus is such a hellscape
Ancient Venus may have looked more like Earth than previously imagined. New research suggests that Earth’s neighbor may have once looked more like our own planet and less like the hellish landscape we now know it to be. Though technically closer to.....»»
What"s the best mix of oceans to land for a habitable planet?
Earth is about 29% land and 71% oceans. How significant is that mix for habitability? What does it tell us about exoplanet habitability?.....»»
Searching for life on highly eccentric exoplanets
When we think about finding life beyond Earth, especially on exoplanets, we immediately want to search for the next Earth, or Earth 2.0. We want an exoplanet that orbits a star firmly in its habitable zone (HZ) with vast oceans of liquid water, and p.....»»
Endangered Devils Hole pupfish is one of the most inbred animals known
As its name implies, the Devil's Hole pupfish lives in a truly hellish environment......»»
Mars: Could life itself have made the planet uninhabitable?
Four billion years ago, the solar system was still young. Almost fully formed, its planets were starting to experience asteroid strikes a little less frequently. Our own planet could have become habitable as long as 3.9 billion years ago, but its pri.....»»
V/H/S/99 directors on hellish freaks, creepy geeks, and the horror that is the late 1990s
In a conversation with Digital Trends, the directors and producer of V/H/S/99 talk about their movie, late '90s horror, and the future of the Shudder franchise......»»
Jupiter"s Ocean Moon Europa Is Ready for Its Close-up
Fresh data from the Juno probe’s flyby of Europa could help scientists learn whether this icy moon of Jupiter is habitable—or even inhabited.....»»
New approach to "cosmic magnet" manufacturing could reduce reliance on rare earths in low-carbon technologies
Researchers have discovered a potential new method for making the high-performance magnets used in wind turbines and electric cars without the need for rare earth elements, which are almost exclusively sourced in China......»»
Zipping up data to zap it back from an icy moon
In the search for life beyond Earth, icy ocean moons like Jupiter's Europa and Saturn's Enceladus are promising possibilities that host potentially habitable environments. Evidence of these environments—and of possible geobiological activity—may.....»»
Researchers aim to solve the rare earths crisis
During a time of immense global uncertainty, managing supply chains for critical materials has been a top priority for many governments and large organizations. But what happens when certain materials are concentrated in the hands of one single natio.....»»
Team develops new tools to help search for life in deep space
Are we alone in the universe? An answer to that age-old question has seemed tantalizingly within reach since the discovery of ice-encrusted moons in our solar system with potentially habitable subsurface oceans. But looking for evidence of life in a.....»»
New theory predicts Earth-like, watery planets exist around red dwarfs
Recent exoplanet exploration has focused on the discovery of temperate rocky planets like the Earth, which are often called habitable planets. Most of the recent missions are targeting stars cooler than the sun. Such stars are known as red dwarfs or.....»»
More than superfood: Researchers study use of duckweed
In Asia, duckweed has been used as a food for a long time. The research group CritMET: Critical Metals for Enabling Technologies at Jacobs University Bremen recently discovered that duckweed is not only rich in nutrients, it also stores rare earths t.....»»
Here"s What Would Happen If The Sun Went Out For An Entire Day
The Sun is a life-giving force that keeps the planet Earth happy and habitable, but what would happen if it got "turned off" or disappeared for a day? The Sun is a l.....»»
Astronomers discover two "super-Earths" orbiting nearby star
An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of two new "super-Earth" exoplanets orbiting a nearby late-type M dwarf star. The newfound alien worlds, designated LP 890-9 b and LP 890-9 c, are slightly larger than the Earth. The finding.....»»
Researchers discover planet in the habitable zone of an ultra-cool star
Astronomers have discovered a super-Earth orbiting a small, cool star which could potentially host liquid water on its surface......»»
What exactly makes an exoplanet ‘habitable’?
Astronomers have been on the hunt for habitable planets outside of our own solar system for decades -- but what exactly counts as habitable?.....»»