Exoplanets
“Disturbing” Light Asymmetry Spotted on Exoplanet WASP-76b May Finally Have an Explanation
Astronomers say they may have finally unraveled the mystery of a disturbing light asymmetry observed on exoplanet WASP-76b.
Earth Can Be Used as a Guinea Pig to Search for Extraterrestrial Life with This New Telescope, Astronomers Say
Researchers have just published a study that could advance our ability to detect extraterrestrial life, and Earth served as the guinea pig.
NASA Just Tested a Crucial Technology That May Soon Help Its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Detect Life on Distant Worlds
NASA says it has successfully administered multiple tests to a new instrument on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will allow unprecedented views of planets beyond our solar system.
The Road to Hell Chickens is Paved With Good ‘Egg-tentions.’
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
SUBSCRIBE TO ‘THE DEBRIEF WEEKLY REPORT’: Apple Podcasts | Spotify On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie descend into the darkest depths...
Something is Orbiting These Distant Exoplanets After All, According to Researchers Who Fire Back Over Exomoon Controversy
Have we discovered Exomoons? Recent news of moons orbiting planets outside our solar system has sparked debate in the astronomical community.
First Ever Earth-sized Planet Orbiting a Sun-Like Star Has Been Discovered Lurking in Our Solar Back Yard
Astronomers are reporting the first discovery of an Earth-sized planet orbiting a sun-like star, and its only 73 light years away.
Want to Visit an Exoplanet? Make Sure You Check Out This Travel Calculator
The Exoplanet Travel Planner Calculator is your next essential tool for that trip to another planet. Kinda.
Astronomers May Have Figured Out How to Detect Liquid Water and Life on Exoplanets
A novel technique to locate planets that could potentially harbor life uses an analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in their atmospheres.
The Top 5 Science and Tech Topics That Make 2023 a Year to Remember
A quick top 5 list of some of our favorite stories, scientific movements, and technological developments from 2023.
NASA Identifies 17 Potentially Habitable Earth-Sized Icy Worlds, Including Two Cosmic Nearby Neighbors
A team of NASA researchers says they have identified 17 potentially habitable icy worlds including two that are cosmically nearby, which may have subsurface oceans teeming with extraterrestrial life.
These Deep Space ‘Agents of Chaos’ Likely ‘Wreak Havoc’ on Alien Lifeforms
New simulations by California astrophysicists reveal that gas giant planets can act as 'agents of chaos' by wreaking havoc on the orbits of earthlike planets capable of supporting alien lifeforms.
Exoplanet Hunters Spot Something They’ve Never Seen Before While Observing Distant Alien Ice Giant
An international team of exoplanet hunters say they have spotted the first-ever recorded collision of two alien ice giant exoplanets.
Did NASA’s James Webb Telescope Just Make The Astonishing First Discovery of Alien Life on Exoplanet K2-18b?
Is there life beyond Earth? The James Webb Telescope has spotted tantalizing potential signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b.
Encountering Aliens: Exploring The Fascinating Speculative Science of Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Physiology and Technology
Whether one is inspired by recent UAP news, or advances in space exploration, many believe that extraterrestrial intelligence exists. How soon might we finally discover it?
“Essential for Life” Amino Acid Found in Interstellar Space, Increasing Chances Extraterrestrial Life is Common
A Spanish researcher who has previously discovered water, carbon dioxide and other key life-supporting chemicals in an interstellar region of space where planets and stars are born says she has now found the life-supporting amino acid tryptophan in the same place.
There May Be Hundreds of Millions of Habitable Planets in the Milky Way Galaxy, New Analysis Reveals
A new study examining the orbital eccentricity of exoplanets has determined that as many as 1 in 3 planets orbiting the billions of M-dwarf stars in the Miky Way galaxy may be habitable.
James Webb Space Telescope Directly Measures Light from Sub-Neptune Exoplanet for the First Time
For the first time ever, researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have successfully measured the light coming from a sub-Neptune-sized exoplanet that orbits a star only 40 light years away.
Extrasolar Space Dust Could Contain Signs of Alien Life, New Paper Suggests
A new paper from the University of Tokyo suggests that astrobiologists could find signs of alien life in particles of space dust that have been ejected from exoplanets and traveled across the vastness of space to reach earth.
The Case For Alien Life Elevated By The Exciting First-Ever Confirmation of Two Exoplanet Water Worlds
Researchers from the University of Montreal have confirmed the presence of two water worlds orbiting a star 218 light years from earth.
New Data from the Gaia Space Telescope is Helping Reveal the Secret Lives of Asteroids
The latest batch of data released from the Gaia Space Telescope is shedding new light on asteroid formation and distant galaxies.
NASA’s Roman Telescope to Directly Image Exoplanets
Program Will Narrow Gap to Directly Imaging Earthlike Exoplanets
Program Will Narrow Gap to Directly Imaging Earthlike Exoplanets
NASA is currently building the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope in hopes of directly imaging smaller and fainter exoplanets.
Are Super-Earths Actually the Best Places to Search for ET?
Super-Earths may be the best place to search for extraterrestrial life due to their long-lived magnetic shields, according...
Astronomers Spot Second Ever Exomoon Candidate
Discovery May Mean Exomoons are Common, Increasing the Odds of Extraterrestrial Life.
Discovery May Mean Exomoons are Common, Increasing the Odds of Extraterrestrial Life.
Astronomers studying a huge, Jupiter-like exoplanet say they have successfully detected a moon in its orbit. Although this...
70 New Rogue Exoplanets Spotted by Astronomers
70 rogue exoplanets, or planets not bound to a host star, have been discovered wandering through the Milky...
The Debrief Weekly News Roundup with Crisitna Gomez
Saturday December 11th, 2021 Edition
Saturday December 11th, 2021 Edition
In the latest edition of The Debrief’s Weekly News Roundup, our own Cristina Gomez takes a look a four...
Tidally Locked Exoplanets May Harbor Life After All
According to a new proposal, a phenomenon known as super-rotation may mean that tidally locked exoplanets, or planets...
TRAPPIST-1 Exoplnets’ Orbital Harmony May Aid Habitability
The orbital harmony of the seven exoplanets spotted in the TRAPPIST-1 star system may indicate that they endured...
Astronomers Develop Technique to Spot Exoplanets Orbiting Two Suns
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique designed to quickly and accurately identify exoplanets orbiting two...
Earth 2.0: Scientists Seek a Better Method for Finding Habitable Exoplanets
Scientists are looking for a "cosmic twin" in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets that could mirror Earth in a variety of different ways.
We Should Use Quantum Communication To Talk to ET, Says SETI Researcher
A researcher from the University of Berkeley's SETI program has proposed we scan for signs of ET using quantum communications methods.
Alien Artifacts on Earth and in Our Solar System is Possible, NASA Reports
A 2018 report published by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows the lengths America’s premier...
Five New, Potentially Habitable Zones Within Tatooine-Like Binary Star Systems
New research says binary star systems may be home to habitable, Earth-like planets, and that changes how we hunt for life in the cosmos.
Scientists Now Understand the Origin of Water, Including on Alien Worlds.
Researchers just released a paper explaining the origin of water in our solar system and on distant alien worlds.
Can a Planet Regrow an Atmosphere? The Secrets of Exoplanet GJ 1132 b
Chrissy Newton explores exoplanet GJ 1132 b to see if a planet can regrow its atmosphere. Researchers have...
The Fermi Paradox: Where Are All The Aliens?
The Fermi Paradox asks "where is everybody?" Or, in more modern parlance, "where are all the freakin' aliens?"
Methane May Be The Best Way to Find Extraterrestrial Life
It is likely that Methane gas, and not Oxygen, will represent the first chemical sign of life on another planet, according to new study.
Oumuamua ‘Alien probe’ may be the way to search for life, according to Harvard astrophysicist
Essay argues interstellar objects may be ‘message in a bottle.’
Essay argues interstellar objects may be ‘message in a bottle.’
Avi Loeb's recent essay challenges scientists to expand their search for extraterrestrial life beyond signals to also look for alien probes.
The James Webb Telescope Will Change the Way We See The Cosmos
The James Webb Telescope is scheduled for launch in October 2021. It will give us the ability to see the cosmos like we never have before.
Farewell 2020: Five Cosmic Stories We Didn’t Cover But Wish We Had
Did You Catch These Stories in 2020?
Did You Catch These Stories in 2020?
As we say "farewell to 2020," and welcome 2021 with open arms, here are five cool space stories we missed and wish we hadn't.