Comparative Planetology

Scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets. One way to search for signs of life on these worlds is to probe exoplanet atmospheres for "biosignatures" -- quirks in chemical composition that are telltale signs of life.

Is it possible that our notions of what makes a planet suitable for life are too limiting? Scientists are finding that the answer not only is yes, but that it’s yes under a range of surprising conditions compared to Earth.

New astronomy research from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) suggests giant planets could form around small stars much faster than previously thought. As published in today’s Astronomy and Astrophysics journal, Dr. Anthony Mercer and Dr. Dimitris Stamatellos’ new planet formation research challenges our understanding

NESSI was built to examine the atmospheres of planets that orbit stars beyond our Sun, or exoplanets, providing new insights into what these worlds are like.

New study finds surface waters on early Mars may have been habitable for microbial life

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered its first Earth-size planet in its star’s habitable zone, the range of distances where conditions may be just right to allow the presence of liquid water on the surface.

NASA's TESS mission finds first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars.

Scientists have developed a new method for detecting oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres that may accelerate the search for life.

Venus could tell us something vitally important about our planet: what happened to the superheated climate of our planetary twin, and what does it mean for life on Earth?

Given that water is a key ingredient to our notion of habitability on Earth, it is important to know how much water can be found in planetary systems beyond our own,