NASA’s Webb Hints at Possible Atmosphere Surrounding Rocky Exoplanet Today Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope may have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth. This is the best evidence to date for the existence of any rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system. Read more Image
Astronomers Are on the Hunt for Dyson Spheres Monday There’s something poetic about humanity’s attempt to detect other civilizations somewhere in the Milky Way’s expanse. There’s also something futile about it. Read more Image
New Findings Point to an Earth-Like Environment on Ancient Mars May 10, 2024 A research team discovered higher-than-usual amounts of manganese in lakebed rocks within Gale Crater on Mars, which indicates that the sediments were formed in a river, delta, or near the shoreline of an ancient lake. Read more Image
New Study Delves into Ozone’s Influence on Exoplanetary Climate May 9, 2024 In the quest for life beyond our solar system, a new study delves into the atmospheric dynamics of planet Proxima Centauri b, illuminating ozone's pivotal role in shaping planetary climates. Read more Image
What Can Early Earth Teach Us about the Search for Life? May 8, 2024 Modern Earth can’t serve as a basis for evaluating exoplanets and their potential to support life as the atmosphere has changed radically over its 4.5 billion years. Read more Image
Unraveling Water Mysteries Beyond Earth May 7, 2024 Scientists describe how ground-penetrating radar is used to discover bodies of water below the surface of distant planets and they are on their way to Jupiter. Read more Image
Webb Telescope Probably Didn’t Find Life on an Exoplanet—Yet May 3, 2024 Recent reports of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope finding signs of life on a distant planet sparked excitement. A new study challenges this finding, but also outlines how the telescope might verify the presence of the life-produced gas. Read more Image
Crucial Building Blocks of Life on Earth Form More Easily in Outer Space April 29, 2024 The origin of life on Earth is still enigmatic, but we are slowly unraveling the steps involved and the necessary ingredients. Read more Image
Measuring the Atmospheres of Other Worlds to See if There are Enough Nutrients for Life April 26, 2024 Scientists are getting a handle on detecting exoplanets that might be warm enough to have liquid water on their surfaces, habitability's most basic signal. Read more Image
If Life Exists on Europa, Scientists Might Soon Be Able to Detect It April 26, 2024 Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Read more Image