habitability

Oceans May Be Critical For Life To Arise In Habitable Zones

It’s generally agreed that liquid water and a stable atmosphere are the minimal requirements for life. But new research shows that oceans play a vital role in stabilizing and moderating climates on Earth-like planets. Mars is a good example of what the astrobiologists from the University of East Anglia are talking about. It’s a planet…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 23

Could We Drink The Water On Mars?

It’s looking more and more likely that there is indeed flowing, liquid water somewhere on Mars or, at least, forming water. So, if we find it, could we (and should we) also drink it? Astrobiologist Nilton Renno, who was co-investigator for NASA’s 2007 Phoenix mission, joined us today to tell us about his latest project:…

io9 Ria Misra Jul 16

This Potentially Habitable Super-Earth Is Just 16 Light Years Away

An international team of astronomers has announced the discovery of a potentially-habitable Super-Earth around the nearby red dwarf star Gliese 832. Located 16 light-years from Earth, it’s considered one of the closest and best habitable-world candidates so far. Gliese 832-c features a brief orbital period of 36 days and a mass at least five times…

io9 George Dvorsky Jun 25

The Closest Known Potentially Habitable Planet Is 13 Light-Years Away

Astronomers have discovered two new super-Earths orbiting an ancient 11.5 billion year-old star a “mere” 13 light-years from here. One planet is in the habitable zone, prompting a researcher to wonder what kind of life could have evolved over such a long period. For comparison, these exoplanets are 2.5 times older than Earth and only…

io9 George Dvorsky Jun 4

Two Suns Could Raise The Chances Of A Moon Supporting Life

Moons in close binary solar systems have a better chance of hosting life than those in single-star systems, new research has shown. Top image: Avatar Binary stars dampen each other’s solar radiation and stellar winds, thereby creating a more hospitable environment for life and increasing the habitable zone around such solar systems, according to research…

io9 Nola Taylor Redd — Discovery News May 5

Planets Don’t Need A Stabilizing Moon To Be Habitable

There’s a long-held view among astrobiologists that planets need the stabilizing influence of a large moon to foster life. But a new study suggests that a stable tilt isn’t a prerequisite for habitability — and that off-kilter planets may be more hospitable to life than stable ones. Top image: ESO. Unlike Earth and its highly…

io9 George Dvorsky Apr 16

We’ve Found A Hidden Ocean On Enceladus That May Harbor Life

It’s turning out that the outer reaches of the solar system may be more hospitable to life than we ever imagined. Gravity measurements made by Cassini have confirmed that Enceladus, a tiny moon orbiting Saturn, hosts a subsurface ocean in its southern latitudes. Astronomers are now saying it’s potentially habitable. The idea that Enceladus may…

io9 George Dvorsky Apr 3

Astronomers say Super-Earths may be completely sterile

The Milky Way appears to be peppered with so-called Super-Earths — distant exoplanets that are between two to 10 Earth masses. Many of them have even been detected within habitable zones. But a new study shows it doesn’t matter. They’re all just dead worlds. Super-Earths — many of which are Mini-Neptunes — can be terrestrial…

io9 George Dvorsky Feb 28

NASA Confirms the Existence of 715 New Exoplanets

Using a new verification technique, Kepler scientists have confirmed the existence of 715 new exoplanets — four of which are located within their star’s habitable zone. It’s the single largest windfall of new confirmations at any one time. NASA made the stunning announcement earlier today at a news teleconference. Presenters included NASA scientists Douglas Hudgins…

io9 George Dvorsky Feb 26

New study dramatically changes where we believe aliens might live

A team of astrobiologists has redefined conventional notions of where life can exist within a solar system. They’ve suggested that life could exist inside planets with inhospitable surfaces. Dubbed “subsurface habitable zones,” this new definition of habitable zones means that alien life may be far more prevalent than we ever imagined. Typically, a solar system’s…

io9 George Dvorsky Jan 13

Water Eruptions on Europa Mean that Conditions Are Ripe for Life

Jupiter’s moon Europa is covered in a thick layer of ice, but it has a turbulent ocean that lies beneath. Today astronomers announced that new observations show this water is erupting in massive plumes like water volcanoes. It’s a discovery that could have serious implications for Europa’s potential to harbor life. Astronomers have never before…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 12

What a Habitable Planet Twice the Size of Earth Would Be Like

To date, astronomers have catalogued over 1,000 exoplanets — some of them rocky and parked within their host star’s habitable zone. But a good portion of these planets are bigger than Earth, prompting us to ask: What would it actually be like on a habitable planet twice the size of ours? Structure A first complication:…

io9 Anders Sandberg Dec 4

Two Billion Reasons Why We’re About to Find Earth 2

Planet-hunting scientists announced today that 22% of sunlike stars in the Milky Way are orbited by potentially habitable, Earth-size worlds. This remarkable finding indicates that there may be as many as two billion planets in our galaxy suitable for life — and that the nearest such planet may be only 12 light-years away. Top photo:…

io9 George Dvorsky Nov 4

Astronomers Find Water on the Remnants of a Destroyed Planet

For the first time ever, scientists have found actual chemical evidence of water on a rocky object outside of our solar system. The water wasn’t found on a planet, but rather the remains of one shredded to bits by its dying parent star. Top illustration: Mark A. Garlick/space-art.co.uk/University of Warwick/University of Cambridge). The sopping wet…

io9 George Dvorsky Oct 11

Earth will turn into a Venus-like hell earlier than previously thought

A new study from the University of Victoria is suggesting that our atmosphere is far more susceptible to a runaway greenhouse effect than previously assumed. The culprit here is the sun and its ever-increasing level of activity. Our planet has attained a delicate state of equilibrium in which it releases or blocks as much incoming…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 30

Red Dwarfs Could Host 60 billion Habitable Planets in the Milky Way

A new study has effectively doubled the estimated number of life-friendly planets in orbit around red dwarfs. And remarkably, the astronomers attribute the revised figure to the presence of clouds. Top illustration by Lynette Cook. We know there’s a crap-ton of terrestrial planets in the Milky Way, many of them spinning around red dwarfs —…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 2

Earth’s Oldest Flowing Water Found at the Bottom of a Canadian Mine

Working at a depth of 1.5 miles, geoscientists have discovered an ancient and isolated reservoir that contains water estimated to be anywhere from 1.5 to 2.7 billion years old. It’s the oldest free-flowing sample of water ever discovered — and now the researchers want to know what’s in it. The geoscientists are calling the discovery…

io9 George Dvorsky May 16

Astronomer says all those Earth-like planets we’re discovering are anything but

The past 12 months has seen a dramatic influx in announcements proclaiming the discovery of Earth-like planets. It was only a few years ago that the detection of any kind exoplanet was cause for celebration, but these days news of a potentially habitable planet has become routine. But as astronomer and astrobiologist Caleb Scharf now…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 27

Oceans May Be Critical For Life To Arise In Habitable Zones

Could We Drink The Water On Mars?

This Potentially Habitable Super-Earth Is Just 16 Light Years Away

The Closest Known Potentially Habitable Planet Is 13 Light-Years Away

Two Suns Could Raise The Chances Of A Moon Supporting Life

Planets Don’t Need A Stabilizing Moon To Be Habitable

We’ve Found A Hidden Ocean On Enceladus That May Harbor Life

Astronomers say Super-Earths may be completely sterile

NASA Confirms the Existence of 715 New Exoplanets

New study dramatically changes where we believe aliens might live

Water Eruptions on Europa Mean that Conditions Are Ripe for Life

What a Habitable Planet Twice the Size of Earth Would Be Like

Two Billion Reasons Why We’re About to Find Earth 2

Astronomers Find Water on the Remnants of a Destroyed Planet

Earth will turn into a Venus-like hell earlier than previously thought

Red Dwarfs Could Host 60 billion Habitable Planets in the Milky Way

Earth’s Oldest Flowing Water Found at the Bottom of a Canadian Mine

Astronomer says all those Earth-like planets we’re discovering are anything but

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