Scientists have mapped the Milky Way's Galactic Habitable Zone—a ring 25,000 to 33,000 light-years from the galactic center where conditions favor life. The zone balances metallicity for planet formation against supernova threats and stellar density, guiding where telescopes search for Earth-like worlds.
Astronomers have discovered trillions of rogue planets drifting through our galaxy without stars, challenging our understanding of how planets form and where life might exist beyond traditional habitable zones.
Binary star systems, home to over half the galaxy's stars, present unique challenges for planetary habitability through variable radiation and complex gravitational dynamics, yet astronomers are discovering dozens of circumbinary planets and exploring whether life could adapt to these chaotic dual-sun environments.
Scientists use space telescopes like JWST to analyze exoplanet atmospheres for biosignatures such as oxygen and methane that could indicate alien life. While recent breakthroughs show promise, false positives and atmospheric complexity mean definitive proof may still be years away.
Extremophiles—organisms thriving in Earth's most hostile environments—are revolutionizing biotechnology, expanding our understanding of life's boundaries, and guiding the search for extraterrestrial life through their remarkable biochemical adaptations.
The 2020 discovery of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere sparked a fierce scientific debate about potential alien life. Five years later, disputed data and new findings from brown dwarfs keep the mystery alive as future missions prepare to settle the question.
4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized planet called Theia collided with Earth, creating our Moon and delivering the water and volatile elements that made life possible.
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