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Astrobiology news
Watery planets orbiting dead stars may be good candidates for studying life—if they can survive long enough
The small footprint and dim light of white dwarfs, remnants of stars that have burned through their fuel, may make excellent backdrops for studying planets with enough water to harbor life.
Astrobiology
Jun 13, 2024
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New research finds lake under Mars ice cap unlikely
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.
Astrobiology
Jun 7, 2024
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New instrument to search for signs of life on other planets
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has signed an agreement for the design and construction of ANDES, the ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph.
Astronomy
Jun 6, 2024
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What impact does ozone have on an exoplanet?
As we discover more and more exoplanets—and the current total is in excess of 5,200—we continue to try to learn more about them. Astrobiologists busy themselves analyzing their atmospheres searching for anything that ...
Astrobiology
Jun 4, 2024
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Cryovolcanism: Why study it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth?
Universe Today has had the privilege of spending the last several months venturing into a multitude of scientific disciplines, including impact craters, planetary surfaces, exoplanets, astrobiology, solar physics, comets, ...
Astrobiology
May 31, 2024
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Sulfur molecules from space may have seeded early life on Earth
Important nutrients for the first living organisms on Earth may have come from space, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Astrobiology
May 30, 2024
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177
Could Martian atmospheric samples teach us more about the red planet than surface samples?
NASA is actively working to return surface samples from Mars in the next few years, which they hope will help us better understand whether ancient life once existed on the red planet's surface billions of years ago. But what ...
Astrobiology
May 27, 2024
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Dyson spheres: Astronomers report potential candidates for alien structures, and evidence against their existence
There are three ways to look for evidence of alien technological civilizations. One is to look out for deliberate attempts by them to communicate their existence, for example, through radio broadcasts. Another is to look ...
Astronomy
May 25, 2024
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Could alien solar panels be technosignatures?
If alien technological civilizations exist, they almost certainly use solar energy. Along with wind, it's the cleanest, most accessible form of energy, at least here on Earth. Driven by technological advances and mass production, ...
Astronomy
May 23, 2024
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International planet hunters unveil massive catalog of strange worlds
While thousands of planets have been discovered around other stars, relatively little is known about them. A NASA catalog featuring 126 exotic, newly discovered worlds includes detailed measurements that allow for comparisons ...
Astrobiology
May 23, 2024
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Earth 2.0 or its evil twin? Discovery of Earth-sized planet could shed light on conditions necessary for life
The discovery of a planet similar to Venus around a star in the neighborhood of the solar system raises hopes that astronomers may someday unlock the secret to why life appeared on Earth.
Astrobiology
May 23, 2024
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Exploring the depths: How iron snow could unlock the secrets of life on Europa
Ever since the tantalizing discovery of icy ocean worlds within our own solar system, such as Europa and Enceladus, scientists have been captivated by the possibility of life lurking beneath their frozen surfaces.
Astrobiology
May 21, 2024
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Did Earth's multicellular life depend on plate tectonics?
How did complex life emerge and evolve on the Earth and what does this mean for finding life beyond Earth?
Astrobiology
May 20, 2024
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Webb cracks case of inflated exoplanet
Why is the warm gas-giant exoplanet WASP-107 b so puffy? Two independent teams of researchers have an answer.
Astrobiology
May 20, 2024
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Exploring extremes in the search for life on Mars
People might assume the search for life on Mars ended when NASA's first rovers sent back images of the planet's barren, inhospitable surface. However, as scientists broaden their understanding of the extreme conditions in ...
Astrobiology
May 20, 2024
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177
Researchers shed light on how key ingredient for life may form in space
A team led by University of Maryland chemists discovered a new way to create carbenes, a class of highly reactive yet notoriously short-lived and unstable molecules. Involved in many high-energy chemical reactions such as ...
Astrobiology
May 16, 2024
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Scientists help unravel life's cosmic beginnings
Knowledge about the early forms of life in the universe that may have led to the development of life on Earth remains largely unknown. However, a group of scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are attempting ...
Astrobiology
May 13, 2024
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Discovery of biomarkers in space—conditions on Saturn's moon Enceladus simulated in the laboratory
In 2018, very large organic molecules were discovered in ice particles on Saturn's moon Enceladus. It is still unclear whether they indicate the existence of life or were created in some other way. A recent study could help ...
Astrobiology
May 13, 2024
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Tracing the origins of organic matter in Martian sediments
Although Mars presents a barren, dusty landscape with no signs of life so far, its geological features such as deltas, lakebeds, and river valleys strongly suggest a past where water once flowed abundantly on its surface. ...
Astrobiology
May 13, 2024
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311
What deadly Venus can tell us about life on other worlds
Even though Venus and Earth are so-called sister planets, they're as different as heaven and hell. Earth is a natural paradise where life has persevered under its azure skies despite multiple mass extinctions. On the other ...
Astrobiology
May 12, 2024
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More news
Enceladus spills its guts through strike–slip motion
Will we know if TRAPPIST-1e has life?
Other news
New computational tool helps interpret AI models in genomics
New photonic chip spawns nested topological frequency comb
New insights into how cell shape influences protein transport rates
An alternative way to manipulate quantum states
Hurricane changed 'rules of the game' in monkey society
AI can help forecast toxic 'blue-green tides'
Researchers uncover enzyme communication mechanism that could aid drug development
