Our Galaxy’s Sweet Spot for Life Is Bigger Than We Thought
New simulations suggest the Galactic Habitable Zone isn’t fixed: when stars migrate across the Milky Way, the odds…
Could Alien Worlds Thrive Around Dead Stars?
White dwarf stars, like this one shown shrouded by a planetary nebula, are much smaller than stars like…
Astrophysicists Zero In on Source of Strange Gamma-Ray Signals
Artist’s impression of a MSP binary system. Credit: ESA & Francesco Ferraro (Bologna Astronomical Observatory) Millisecond pulsar binaries…
Mysterious “Soot Planets” May Be Hiding in Plain Sight Among the Stars
Artist’s depiction of a “soot planet” and its formation process. Credit: Ari Gea/SayoStudio Some planets may be soot-rich…
Earth-Like Planet GJ 1132 B Has No Atmosphere
Artist’s impression of exoplanet GJ 1132 b and its host M-dwarf star. Credit: Dana Berry, Skyworks Digital, CfA…