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Planets without plate tectonics could still be habitable

It has been thought that plate tectonics were a significant factor in the shaping of our planet and the evolution of life. Mars and Venus don't experience such movements of crustal plates, but then the differences between ...

Dormancy: Life's first survival strategy?

The early Earth was an extreme place. Asteroids pommeled the surface. Volcanoes spewed lava and carbon dioxide. The thick, toxic atmosphere lacked oxygen. Yet, in this turmoil, life emerged.

Cenotectic concept redefines search for life on icy worlds

As NASA's Europa Clipper embarks on its historic journey to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, Dr. Matt Powell-Palm, a faculty member at Texas A&M University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, has unveiled research that could ...

What is the zoo hypothesis for alien life?

It seems that we are completely alone in the universe. But simple reasoning suggests that there should be an abundance of alien civilizations. Maybe they're all out there, but they are keeping their distance. Welcome to the ...

Could the ESA's PLATO mission find Earth 2.0?

Currently, 5,788 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4,326 star systems, while thousands more candidates await confirmation. So far, the vast majority of these planets have been gas giants (3,826) or Super-Earths (1,735), while ...

Does life really need planets? Maybe not

Do we have a planetary bias when it comes to understanding where life can perpetuate? It's only natural that we do. After all, we're on one.

New technique for spotting Dyson rings unveiled

Dyson spheres and rings have always held a special fascination for me. The concept is simple: build a great big structure either as a sphere or ring to harness the energy from a star. Dyson rings are far more simple and feasible ...

China plans to retrieve Mars samples by 2031

China's growing presence in space has been undeniable since the turn of the century. Between sending the first "taikonaut" to space in 2003 (Yang Liwei), launching the first Chinese robotic mission to the moon (Chang'e-1) ...

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Astrobiology
Team links comet water to Earth's oceans
Astrobiology
Dragonfly is going to Titan on a Falcon Heavy
Astrobiology
Astronomers deal a blow to theory that Venus once had liquid water on its surface
Astrobiology
Scientists reveal possible role of iron sulfides in creating life in terrestrial hot springs
Astrobiology
Ryugu asteroid sample rapidly colonized by terrestrial life despite strict contamination control
Astrobiology
Oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars found
Astrobiology
Origin of life research finds RNA can favor both left- and right-handed proteins
Astrobiology
Many physicists argue the universe is fine-tuned for life. Our findings question this idea
Astrobiology
Mars Curiosity rover takes a last look at mysterious sulfur
Astrobiology
Volcanic caves research advances the search for life on Mars
Astrobiology
Statistical approach improves models of atmosphere on early Earth and exoplanets
Astrobiology
What's behind the Martian methane mystery?
Astrobiology
New study examines how extraterrestrial civilizations could become 'stellivores'
Space Exploration
A spider stellar engine could move binary stars halfway across a galaxy
Astronomy
A formula for life? New model calculates chances of intelligent beings in our universe and beyond
Astrobiology
Spectral method can compute tidal effects on planet and moon interiors
Astrobiology
Examining how stellar threats impact the habitable zone of exoplanets
Astrobiology
How life began on Earth: Model suggests ancient Earth had organic-rich atmosphere
Astrobiology
Mars may have been habitable much more recently than thought
Astrobiology
Could life at TRAPPIST-1 survive the star's superflares?

Other news

Evolution
Fossil discovery sheds light on the early evolution of animal nervous systems
Astronomy
'What is that?' Scientists explain white patch that appears near northern lights
Molecular & Computational biology
Plant hormones that help roots reach deeper water provide potential strategy for drought-resistant crops
Nanophysics
Covalent organic frameworks demonstrate considerable potential for efficient energy transport
Biochemistry
New device harnesses microwave flow reaction to convert biomass into useful sugars
Environment
Estimating the impact of the EPA's changing power plant greenhouse gas standards
Nanophysics
Single-atom metal layer reveals unexpected spin-polarized current control with light
Archaeology
Ethiopian Highlands study examines stone tool decision-making process in early human history
Condensed Matter
Resistance measurement approach successfully observes topological signatures in multiterminal Josephson junctions
Nanophysics
Scientists develop high-impact materials for optoelectronic technologies
Plants & Animals
Brightly colored creature—kept in pet aquariums globally—discovered as new species
Plants & Animals
Woodrats use 'quantity over quality' as a detox plan, study finds
Plants & Animals
New discovery on how plants detect light and grow could result in more resilient crops
Bio & Medicine
Highly tunable biotemplating method expands nanostructure synthesis options
Analytical Chemistry
Study reveals secrets behind cordierite's anomalous thermal expansion
Molecular & Computational biology
Hydrogen peroxide and the mystery of fruit ripening: 'Signal messengers' in plants
Plants & Animals
Shallow waters and fast currents boost elkhorn coral restoration
Earth Sciences
Study reveals rapid return of water from ground to atmosphere through plants
Nanophysics
Hidden transport pathways in graphene confirmed, paving the way for next-generation device design
General Physics
Physicist introduces percolation model to explain word puzzle solving behavior

Entropy could be key to a planet's habitability

We all know that to have life on a world, you need three critical items: water, warmth, and food. Now add to that a factor called "entropy." It plays a role in determining if a given planet can sustain and grow complex life.

Webb finds icy complex organic molecules around protostars

In the quest to understand how and where life might arise in the galaxy, astronomers search for its building blocks. Complex Organic Molecules (COMs) are some of those blocks, and they include things like formaldehyde and ...

Some icy exoplanets may have habitable oceans and geysers

A NASA study expands the search for life beyond our solar system by indicating that 17 exoplanets (worlds outside our solar system) could have oceans of liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, beneath icy shells. ...