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Here’s what ‘habitable’ means to astronomers
When astronomers say a distant world is 'habitable,' what do they mean? Do they mean humans could live there? Do they mean we've discovered alien life?
January 18, 2026
Do aliens and fireflies communicate similarly?
Advanced aliens and fireflies on Earth might communicate in similar ways, by using signals of flashing light, a new theoretical study suggests.
January 16, 2026
SETI@home takes a closer look at 100 notable signals
The SETI@home project is taking a 2nd look at 100 notable signals. Researchers are using China's FAST radio telescope to prepare for future surveys.
January 15, 2026
Europa’s ocean ‘quiet and lifeless,’ new research suggests
Is Europa's ocean habitable? A new study suggests it might be 'quiet and lifeless', with little to no geologic activity on the seafloor.
January 15, 2026
How to detect signatures of alien life in exoplanet air
Astronomers can detect the molecules of distant exoplanets when they pass in front of their stars. These molecules might help reveal signatures of alien life.
January 14, 2026
Earth’s ice ages shaped by tiny tugs from Mars
Computer simulations show the presence of Mars affects the cycles that cause Earth's ice ages. Without Mars, those cycles vanish.
January 14, 2026
Strange shock wave around dead star surprises astronomers
Astronomers have spotted a beautiful shock wave around a dead star 730 light-years away. And according to all known mechanisms, this shock wave shouldn't exist.
January 13, 2026
New research says icy lakes on Mars lasted for decades
The ancient lake in Gale crater - and other icy lakes on Mars - could have been liquid below the surface for decades thanks to seasonal surface ice.
January 13, 2026
Fast-spinning asteroid 2025 MN45 rewrites rotation record
2025 MN45 - a newly discovered fast-spinning asteroid - is the fastest-rotating object of its size ever discovered. It rotates once every 1.88 minutes.
January 11, 2026
Earliest, hottest galaxy cluster gas could upend models
Astronomers have found the earliest, hottest galaxy cluster gas yet. This scorching gas between galaxies is hotter than expected for so early in the universe.
January 9, 2026
