Astrobiology
12 reportsLife detection missions and habitability form a case with different strengths and limits. Reports examine how contamination is prevented and what makes an environment habitable, comparing competing models without treating agreement as proof of mechanism.
Radio Surveys Reveal Millions More Milky Way Stars Searched for SETI
A new analysis using the Besançon Galactic Model suggests that radio telescopes have surveyed over 6 million stars for extraterrestrial signals, far exceeding previous estimates based on star catalogues
Spirit Rover Data Reveals Widespread Ancient Water Activity on Mars
A new analysis of NASA's Spirit rover data has identified crystalline hematite and altered magnetite in Martian soil, supporting the view that liquid water once shaped large regions of Mars
Europa Clipper May Miss Ocean Water Rising Through Europa's Ice
Computer simulations suggest turbulent water rising through Europa's ice would freeze its pathways shut, making shallow surface pools poor indicators of the moon's buried ocean
Exoplanets Smaller Than Mars May Lose Atmospheres Too Quickly for Life
A new planetary modeling study suggests rocky exoplanets must be at least 80% the width of Earth to retain atmospheres for billions of years, narrowing the search for potentially habitable worlds around sun-like stars
Detection of Four-Carbon Sugar Molecule in Interstellar Space
Researchers have identified the sugar molecule erythrulose in a molecular cloud near the Milky Way's center using radio telescopes, providing new evidence that complex organic compounds can form in interstellar environments under extreme conditions
NASA Eyes Mars Skies 50 Years After Viking 1's Landmark Landing
NASA's Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars in 1976, launching a new era of planetary exploration. Now, five decades later, the agency is preparing to extend its reach above the Martian surface with aerial missions.
James Webb Telescope Detects Unidentified Infrared Signal on Titan and Pluto
The James Webb Space Telescope has recorded a mysterious infrared absorption feature on both Saturn's moon Titan and the dwarf planet Pluto, hinting at shared surface chemistry despite their contrasting environments
Viking 1's Mars Life Experiments: What the Evidence Still Can't Prove
Fifty years after NASA's Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars, scientists remain divided over whether its life-detection experiments found evidence of Martian biology or were confounded by non-biological chemistry and instrument limitations
AI Struggles With Unknowns in Search for Extraterrestrial Life
A Michigan State University study using digital life simulations reveals that artificial intelligence can misclassify unfamiliar molecular patterns as signs of life, raising concerns for future missions seeking biosignatures beyond Earth
Atmosphere detected on rocky exoplanet in habitable zone
Astronomers have identified helium escaping from LHS 1140 b, a super-Earth orbiting in its star's habitable zone, using infrared spectroscopy. The finding offers the strongest evidence yet that a rocky exoplanet can retain an atmosphere for billions of years
SpaceX Starship Test Aborted as Defense and Science Missions Advance
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch was halted seconds before liftoff, highlighting ongoing technical challenges as the company expands its role in US military and scientific space operations
Atmosphere Detected on Rocky Exoplanet in Habitable Zone
Astronomers have directly detected helium in the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b, a rocky exoplanet orbiting within its star's habitable zone, using infrared spectroscopy. The finding raises new questions about atmospheric survival and planetary habitability.