Habitable planet potential increases in the outer galaxy
What can the Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ), which is a galaxy’s region where complex life is hypothesized to be able to evolve, teach scientists...
Earth-size stars and alien oceans: An astronomer explains the case for life around white...
The sun will someday die. This will happen when it runs out of hydrogen fuel in its core and can no longer produce energy...
No collision, no life: How a cosmic crash may have made Earth habitable
Earth is the only known planet that supports life. It has liquid water, a breathable atmosphere, and the right conditions for plants, animals, and...
White dwarf stars could create surprisingly common long lived habitable zones
A new study by Manuel Barrientos and colleagues from the University of Oklahoma reveals that between 0.6% and 2.5% of white dwarfs in our...
Scientists find way to turn Mars soil into metal
The dream of building homes, labs, and entire settlements on Mars is no longer just the stuff of science fiction.
Billionaires, space agencies, and space...
Astronomers use planet transits to map star spots
Astronomers have found a new way to peek at the blemishes on distant stars—features known as star spots—by carefully studying planets as they cross...
Astronomers capture rare glimpse of a baby planet forming around a young star
Astronomers have made a rare and unexpected discovery: a newborn planet caught in the act of forming around a young star that resembles our...
From the south pole to the stars: Scientists trace elusive cosmic ghosts
For more than a century, scientists have been puzzled by the origins of cosmic radiation—the constant shower of high-energy particles like electrons, protons, and...
Jupiter’s mysterious core: Giant impacts may not be the answer
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has always been full of surprises.
One of the biggest mysteries lies at its heart. Instead of...
Astronomers accidentally discover hidden radiation around a supermassive black hole
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery by accident: they found millimeter radiation being produced right near the heart of a supermassive black hole.
This breakthrough,...