
Red Dwarfs Aren’t So Bad (For Planets) After All
Red dwarf stars appear to flare preferentially at high latitudes, which might keep their exoplanets habitable instead of hellish.

Extra Stars Might Downsize Exoplanets
Follow-up studies of candidates planetary systems found by NASA’s Kepler mission suggest that companion stars make some worlds appear smaller than they really are.

Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon
Life Outside the Habitable Zone
What would allow a planet to host life? The habitable zone is often defined as the distance from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface.

Most “Earth-Like” Planet Found Yet
The newly discovered planet, Kepler-186f, is the first Earth-size exoplanet circling in its star’s habitable zone. The media worldwide is gleaming with fantastical headlines, but readers in the know may have an inkling the result is less than it seems.