an illustration of a flaring red dwarf, with a disk of gas and dust containing an earth-like exoplanet.

Exoplanets

Red Dwarfs Aren’t So Bad (For Planets) After All

Red dwarf stars appear to flare preferentially at high latitudes, which might keep their exoplanets habitable instead of hellish.

Robo-AO

Exoplanets

Extra Stars Might Downsize Exoplanets

Follow-up studies of candidates planetary systems found by NASA’s Kepler mission suggest that companion stars make some worlds appear smaller than they really are.

Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon

Life Outside the Habitable Zone

What would allow a planet to host life? The habitable zone is often defined as the distance from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface.

Exoplanets

Most “Earth-Like” Planet Found Yet

The newly discovered planet, Kepler-186f, is the first Earth-size exoplanet circling in its star’s habitable zone. The media worldwide is gleaming with fantastical headlines, but readers in the know may have an inkling the result is less than it seems.