Why Build Megastructures? Just Move Planets around to Make Habitable Worlds Nov. 16, 2023 The possibility of advanced civilizations building giant structures to harness the energy of their stars is time-honored, with examples going back to the early 20th century. Read more Image
Is It Life, or is It Volcanoes? Nov. 15, 2023 Astronomers are working hard to understand biosignatures and how they indicate life's presence on an exoplanet. But each planet we encounter is a unique puzzle. Read more Image
Subglacial Water Could Extend the Classical Habitable Zone of Exoplanets Nov. 14, 2023 New research introduces the concept of subglacial liquid water as a pivotal element in broadening the boundaries of the conventional habitable zone. Read more Image
Smithsonian Opens First Public Display of Asteroid Bennu Sample Collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Nov. 14, 2023 Samples from Bennu may provide insights into how water and organic molecules first reached Earth, a core research focus of the OSIRIS-REx mission. Read more Image
New Recipes for Origin of Life May Point Way to Distant, Inhabited Planets Nov. 13, 2023 Life on a faraway planet—if it's out there—might not look anything like life on Earth. But there are only so many chemical ingredients in the universe's pantry, and only so many ways to mix them. Read more Image
Enceladus Has All the Raw Materials for Life, Researchers Say Nov. 9, 2023 New research based on Cassini data strengthens the idea that Enceladus has the chemicals necessary for life. Read more Image
Estimating the Transmission of Information at a Global Scale Nov. 8, 2023 NASA-supported researchers have attempted to quantify the rate at which information is transmitted on Earth, both within the planet’s biosphere (all life on Earth) and the technosphere (human technology). Read more Image
Scorching, Seven-Planet System Revealed by New Kepler Exoplanet List Nov. 7, 2023 A system of seven sweltering planets has been revealed by continued study of data from NASA’s retired Kepler space telescope: Each one is bathed in more radiant heat from their host star per area than any planet in our solar system. Read more Image
Did Life Exist on Mars? Other Planets? With AI’s Help, We May Know Soon Nov. 6, 2023 Scientists have discovered a simple and reliable test for signs of past or present life on other planets—“the holy grail of astrobiology.” Read more Image
Could Malononitrile Form in Titan's Atmosphere? Nov. 3, 2023 NASA-supported scientists have shown that the atmosphere of Titan could be an ideal environment in which to make a specific compound relevant to the origins of life on Earth. Read more Image