Oceans on alien worlds may form when the air explodes in flames
14 February 2018
When hydrogen and oxygen combine in a planet’s atmosphere, they can ignite into a ball of fire and then leave behind liquid water oceans that would be good for life
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Pre-life molecules found floating in nearby galaxy
7 February 2018
We’ve seen signs of the most complex molecules ever detected outside our galaxy in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a fairly primitive galaxy 160,000 light years away
7 things we thought were made by aliens, but weren't... probably
31 January 2018
Unexplained phenomena from Martian canals to genomic patterns have been ascribed to alien intelligence – but mainly that's turned out to be wishful thinking
Interstellar: The bizarre visitor from a far-off solar system
31 January 2018
First seen in October 2017, the space rock 'Oumuamua looks like a skyscraper tumbling through space – and challenges our ideas of how planetary systems form
Hidden exoplanets could be revealed by echoing light
11 January 2018
Reflected light from a star’s flares may help us find otherwise invisible worlds. These exoplanets could be hit by powerful blasts, but may still host life
The ugly, fractured reality of the cosmos deserves our attention
8 January 2018
A puzzling clash between perfection and imperfection in our universe is getting fresh attention. This great cosmological mystery merits it, says Geraint Lewis
Mars rocks may have drunk up all the water and doomed life there
20 December 2017
We used to think Mars lost most of its water to space when its atmosphere blew away. Instead, the water may have been sucked up by rocks that sunk underground
Why complex life could prove remarkably common in the universe
20 December 2017
Two missions to other solar systems are on the table. If they find life chances are it will be sophisticated, say Dirk Schulze-Makuch and William Bains
Ocean-covered planets may not be the places to search for life
21 November 2017
Looking for life in the universe has often come down to a search for water on other planets. But water worlds may not make enough of the nutrients life needs
Should we seed life through the cosmos using laser-driven ships?
13 November 2017
Our galaxy may have billions of habitable worlds. A proposal to spread life says we should use giant lasers and light sails to send microbes out to them
