Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) XMM-Newton, astronomers are exploring whether nearby stars could host habitable exoplanets, based on whether they emit radiation that could destroy potential conditions for life as we know it. This type of research will help guide observations with the next generation of telescopes aiming to take … Read more
Cornell University researchers have provided a simple and comprehensive—if less dramatic—explanation for bright radar reflections initially interpreted as liquid water beneath the ice cap on Mars’ south pole. Their simulations show that small variations in layers of water ice—too subtle for ground-penetrating radar instruments to resolve—can cause constructive interference between radar waves. Such interference can … Read more
Astronomers have made the rare and tantalizing discovery of an Earth-like exoplanet 40 light-years away that may be just a little warmer than our own world. The new paper “Gliese 12 b, A Temperate Earth-sized Planet at 12 Parsecs Discovered with TESS and CHEOPS,” has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. … Read more
A team of astronomers and citizen scientists has discovered a planet in the habitable zone of an unusual star system, including two stars and potentially another exoplanet. The planet hunters spotted the Neptune-like planet as it crossed in front of its host star, temporarily dimming the star’s light in a way akin to a solar … Read more
In order to understand the Earth’s resilience, researchers at ETH Zurich are modeling climate changes from times long past. And they show that plants are not simply victims of circumstances, but have helped to shape climate conditions on Earth. Over the course of hundreds of millions of years, Earth has lived through a series of … Read more
Astrobiology, a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and planetary science, explores the origins, evolution, distribution, and potential for life in the universe. This fascinating realm of scientific inquiry delves into fundamental questions about the nature of life, its cosmic origins, and the conditions required for habitability beyond Earth. From the … Read more
The discovery of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, has revolutionized our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth. This groundbreaking field of astronomy has uncovered a diverse array of alien worlds, ranging from rocky terrestrial planets to gas giants orbiting distant stars. The exploration of exoplanets has expanded our … Read more
Mars, often referred to as the Red Planet, has captivated human imagination for centuries with its mysterious allure. As the fourth planet from the Sun and Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor, Mars has been a focal point of space exploration and scientific inquiry. From ancient myths and speculative fiction to modern-day missions and discoveries, the exploration … Read more
The search for extraterrestrial life is one of the most profound and enduring quests in human history. It represents our curiosity about the possibility of life beyond Earth and our desire to understand our place in the cosmos. Over the centuries, scientific advancements, technological breakthroughs, and philosophical insights have fueled this exploration, leading to a … Read more
Exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, are celestial bodies that orbit stars outside our solar system. These distant worlds have captivated the imagination of scientists and the public alike, offering tantalizing glimpses into the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own. The study of exoplanets has revealed a wealth of wonders, from rocky worlds resembling Earth to … Read more
Direct utilization of water as a source of hydrogen atoms and molecules is fundamental to the evolution of the ecosystem and industry. However, liquid water is an unfavorable electron donor for forming these hydrogen species due to its redox inertness. A research group led by Prof. Wang Feng and Assoc. Prof. Jia Xiuquan from the … Read more
If we could detect a clear, unambiguous biosignature on just one of the thousands of exoplanets we know of, it would be a huge, game-changing moment for humanity. But it’s extremely difficult. We simply aren’t in a place where we can be certain that what we’re detecting means what we think or even hope it … Read more
From abstract-looking cloud formations to roars of snow machines on ski slopes, the transformation of liquid water into solid ice touches many facets of life. Water’s freezing point is generally accepted to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But that is due to ice nucleation—impurities in everyday water raise its freezing point to this temperature. Now, researchers … Read more
There is no doubt that water is significant. Without it, life would never have begun, let alone continue today—not to mention its role in the environment itself, with oceans covering over 70% of Earth. But despite its ubiquity, liquid water features some electronic intricacies that have long puzzled scientists in chemistry, physics, and technology. For … Read more
A team co-led by Southwest Research Institute found evidence for hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. Methane detected on their surfaces has the tell-tale signs of warm or even hot geochemistry in their rocky cores, which is markedly different than the signature of methane … Read more
In a groundbreaking experiment reminiscent of stop-motion photography, scientists have achieved the remarkable feat of isolating the energetic movement of an electron while simultaneously “freezing” the motion of the much larger atom it orbits within a sample of liquid water. Published in the esteemed journal Science, the findings represent a significant leap forward in our … Read more
A recent study led by astrobiologist Catherine Neish from the Western Institute for Earth and Space Exploration has dealt a blow to hopes of finding life in the outer solar system, particularly on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. Neish’s team found that the subsurface ocean on Titan, though vast, is likely a non-habitable environment, dashing the … Read more
The search for habitable exoplanets involves looking for planets with similar conditions to the Earth, such as liquid water, a suitable temperature range and atmospheric conditions. One crucial factor is the planet’s position in the habitable zone, the region around a star where liquid water could potentially exist on the planet’s surface. NASA’s Kepler telescope, … Read more
The Goldilocks zone, also known as the habitable zone, is a concept in astrobiology that delineates a region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. This region is neither too hot nor too cold, but falls within a range of temperatures conducive to … Read more
The chemical formula for water is H₂O, a representation of its molecular composition. Water, a fundamental substance for life on Earth, plays a crucial role in various biological, chemical, and physical processes. Understanding the chemical formula H₂O involves exploring the molecular structure of water, its properties, significance in different contexts, and its impact on the … Read more