Life finds a way (even on M dwarfs?)
M dwarfs are known to be really active when they’re young, which is bad for habitability. But what about old M dwarfs?
Interstellar Travel with Sailing (Space) Ships
Interstellar travel is difficult with traditional fuel-powered rockets. Today’s paper explores how we could instead use sailing space ships, propelled by photons and particles from astrophysical sources. Spoiler alert: Sailing ships could almost reach the speed of light!
Emerging from the shadows: A method for detecting complex life on exoplanets
Lifeforms like trees cast unique shadows on the Earth’s surface. Understanding this effect may enable remote detection of life on exoplanets.
Modeling Limitless Skies
For life as we know it, atmospheric composition plays a huge part in planetary habitability. Today we explore a theoretical framework for characterizing and predicting planetary atmospheres, and how that framework can help in the search for Earth-like life on planets beyond our own.
How to say ‘Hi’ in Alien, and why it’s the worst idea on Earth
Using a laser we can carefully edit the telltale signs of the Earth’s presence, hiding ourselves away or announcing our presence to other life in the universe. But doing so may be fraught with unknowable consequences that we can never undo. Maybe it’s best to just stay behind the galactic sofa.
A Galaxy Infected with Life?
Can life hop from planet to planet like a virus in an epidemic? Can we even detect whether this has happened?