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.....»»
NASA"s TESS discovers planetary system"s second Earth-size world
Using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, scientists have identified an Earth-size world, called TOI 700 e, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star—the range of distances where liquid water could occur on a planet's surfa.....»»
We could spread life to the Milky Way with comets. But should we?
Here's a thorny problem: What if life doesn't always appear on planets that can support it? What if we find more and more exoplanets and determine that some of them are habitable? What if we also determine that life hasn't appeared on them yet?.....»»
Are planets tidally locked to red dwarfs habitable? It"s complicated
Astronomers are keenly interested in red dwarfs and the planets that orbit them. Up to 85% of the stars in the Milky Way could be red dwarfs, and 40% of them might host Earth-like exoplanets in their habitable zones, according to some research......»»
Astronomers discover two potentially habitable exo-Earths around a star near the sun
An international scientific team led by researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has discovered the presence of two planets with Earth-like masses in orbit around the star GJ 1002, a red dwarf not far from the solar system. Both.....»»
Scientists may have found the first water worlds
Density suggests these "super-Earths" are more like giant, hot Europas. Enlarge (credit: NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak) Two planets that were originally discovered by the Kepler mission may not be what we thought they were. Bas.....»»
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.....»»