Scientists want to search for life in this double star system devoid of giant exoplanets. Here’s why
The giants might've been kicked out, left to live a rogue lifestyle.
Planets may make their own water as they form — could that mean more habitable worlds in the universe?
New lab experiments suggest that water may not be a rare visitor delivered by chance but rather a fundamental ingredient woven into the process of planetary birth.
Heat leaking from Saturn’s ocean moon Enceladus bolsters its case as an abode for life
Excess heat detected at Saturn moon Enceladus' north pole helps to account for a finely balanced energy budget that keeps the moon's ocean liquefied. What could this mean in the search for life?
Powerful solar storms may help life get going on alien planets. Here’s how
New observations of a volatile young star have shown how infant suns could unleash enough energy to trigger biologically relevant chemical reactions in an orbiting planet's atmosphere.
Could these mysterious flashes of light in 1950s photos be UFOs? Some researchers think so
Researchers claim flashes of light seen in sky surveys could have been UFOs drawn to Earth by nuclear tests, but more mundane explanations should be explored first.
The search for life: A space science quiz
This quiz dives into the historic and scientific journey behind the search for life in the universe—testing your knowledge of the thinkers, missions, and discoveries that shaped our cosmic curiosity.
Space radiation can produce some organic molecules detected on icy moons
As missions prepare to visit ocean worlds like Enceladus and Europa, new findings show scientists must first learn to distinguish between radiation-made organics and those born in a subsurface sea.
How excited should we be about the latest Mars potential biosignature discovery? ‘It’s arguably the best evidence we have so far’
What about those previously studied plumes of methane and meteorites potentially stuffed with the fossils of Martian microbes?
No near neighbors: Closest technologically advanced aliens may be 33,000 light-years from Earth
A new study suggests that, without plate tectonics and the right balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen, advanced alien civilizations may be exceedingly rare.
Could a Mars crater have once hosted life? NASA’s Perseverance rover finds more evidence it’s possible
Fresh analysis of Perseverance rover data reveals Jezero Crater experienced repeated episodes of water activity, strengthening the case for habitability and raising the stakes for Mars Sample Return.