Stellar flares could masquerade as life on exoplanets
Astronomers tested whether energy bursts from stars could artificially elevate typical “biosignature” gases on exoplanets.
Category: What do we know about stars?
What do we know about stars? How can stars teach us about ourselves, the Earth?
The lifecycle of a steam world
Scientists studied exoplanets with high water contents and found that they initially have outer vapor layers, which then cool and shrink…
The Sun’s coldest regions are warmer than expected
Researchers found that the coldest regions of the Sun’s surface are much hotter than models predicted, likely due to turbulence in its…
Is Earth safe from nearby exploding stars?
Scientists used an Earth system model to test how radiation from a nearby supernova would affect life on our planet. They found that the…
Dying stars create new elements
Astrophysicists showed that collapsing white dwarfs can eject enough material to form heavy elements.
How did Super Jupiters form?
Astronomers profiled the characteristics of exoplanet TOI-2145b to explore the origins of Super Jupiters. They suggested these massive…
Alien life could face threats from passing stars and supernovae
Astronomers examined 84 of the closest known stars with potentially habitable exoplanets and found that 3 face possible extinction-level…
How did supermassive black holes form?
An astronomer analyzed ancient supermassive black holes with mathematical models and found they likely grew exponentially after light,…
Citizen scientists and AI help astronomers find galaxies
Scientists trained an AI algorithm to categorize distant galaxies using volunteer classifications. Their model could improve the accuracy of…
Astronomers simulate hidden minor planets across the Galaxy
Researchers modeled how planets smaller than Earth formed and changed over the first billion years of their existence. They found these…