Astrobiology

Is Methane the Key to Finding Life on Other Worlds?Is Methane the Key to Finding Life on Other Worlds?

Is Methane the Key to Finding Life on Other Worlds?

How would detecting methane help astronomers identify if exoplanets, or even exomoons, have life as we know it, or even…

2 weeks ago
Is There a Fundamental Logic to Life?Is There a Fundamental Logic to Life?

Is There a Fundamental Logic to Life?

One of the more daunting questions related to astrobiology—the search for life in the cosmos—concerns the nature of life itself.…

2 months ago
Could the ESA’s PLATO Mission Find Earth 2.0?Could the ESA’s PLATO Mission Find Earth 2.0?

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…

2 months ago
Does Life Really Need Planets? Maybe NotDoes Life Really Need Planets? Maybe Not

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…

2 months ago
Dragonfly is Going to Titan on a Falcon HeavyDragonfly is Going to Titan on a Falcon Heavy

Dragonfly is Going to Titan on a Falcon Heavy

NASA has given SpaceX the contract to launch the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon Titan. A Falcon Heavy will send…

3 months ago
New Study Examines Cosmic Expansion, Leading to a New Drake EquationNew Study Examines Cosmic Expansion, Leading to a New Drake Equation

New Study Examines Cosmic Expansion, Leading to a New Drake Equation

In 1960, in preparation for the first SETI conference, Cornell astronomer Frank Drake formulated an equation to calculate the number…

3 months ago
Europa Clipper Begins Odyssey to Assess Jovian Moon’s HabitabilityEuropa Clipper Begins Odyssey to Assess Jovian Moon’s Habitability

Europa Clipper Begins Odyssey to Assess Jovian Moon’s Habitability

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft today began its six-year cruise to the Jupiter system, with the goal of determining whether one…

4 months ago
How the ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Rover Will Drill for Samples on MarsHow the ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Rover Will Drill for Samples on Mars

How the ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Rover Will Drill for Samples on Mars

Russia's attack on Ukraine has delayed its launch, but the ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover is heading toward completion. It was…

5 months ago
Book Review: Is Earth Exceptional?Book Review: Is Earth Exceptional?

Book Review: Is Earth Exceptional?

A new book looks at the latest scientific insights versus a key question in astronomy and space science.

5 months ago
Earth-like exoplanets might be in short supply for the Habitable Worlds ObservatoryEarth-like exoplanets might be in short supply for the Habitable Worlds Observatory

Earth-like exoplanets might be in short supply for the Habitable Worlds Observatory

How common are Earth-like exoplanets—also called exo-Earths—and which exoplanetary systems should we target to find them? This is what a…

6 months ago