Where did the galaxy get its carbon?
Researchers compared computer models with observations of stars in the Milky Way, and found that massive stars are the dominant source of…
Category: What might life look like elsewhere in the Universe?
What might life look like elsewhere in the Universe? How do we search for life?
Finding alien life with light signals
Scientists compared light reflected from Earth to light reflected from Mars, and found that planets with life produce more complex,…
The Sun’s twin star may have tilted the planets’ orbits
A scientist simulated the early solar system to determine how interactions between the Sun and other stars affected its planetary orbits.
Is Earth’s water why intelligent life evolved here?
A Columbia University scientist argued that the existence of humans provides strong evidence that intelligent life is more likely to evolve…
Clay minerals suggest a warm, wet past for Mars
Researchers studied clay deposits on Mars using tools aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and found evidence for a warm and humid past…
Searching for planets in a galaxy far away
Researchers surveyed over 20,000 stars thought to come from a nearby galaxy and found that no more than 1% harbored close-orbiting,…
What makes ‘chemically peculiar stars’ peculiar?
Scientists used a network of satellites to measure the rotational characteristics of 85 stars previously thought to have unique chemistries.
Could we find DNA on Mars?
Scientists used a highly sensitive DNA sequencing method to identify microbes from rock samples exposed to radiation levels equivalent to…
Has Earth received any radio signals from aliens?
Scientists affiliated with the SETI@home project analyzed 14 years of radio wave data collected by the Arecibo Telescope and identified 92…
“Radical mundanity” could explain why we haven’t met aliens
In response to the question, “Where are all the aliens?”, one astronomer argued that, if they are similar to humans, they may have faced…