Researchers in Abu Dhabi are studying how a planet's relationship with its host star can affect its ability to support life.
A new study by NYU Abu Dhabi found that emissions from host stars can strip away the atmosphere of planets orbiting them. Scientists believe that planets with no atmosphere are uninhabitable.
Results of the study were published in the Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Society: Letters journal this month and led by research scientist Dr Dimitra Atri with involvement from graduate student Shane Carberry Mogan.
After looking at 493 host stars outside our solar system, it was found that extreme ultraviolet radiation and stellar flares from some categories of host stars can destroy the upper atmosphere of planets orbiting them.
"We have identified exoplanets in the M0 to M4 [host stars] category are least likely to be habitable, because their atmospheres will be completely eroded by extreme ultraviolet radiation," Dr Atri told The National.
So far, scientists have discovered 4,000 planets around more than 3,000 host stars, none of which have shown habitable conditions similar to Earth's.
To find distant planets that can support life, researchers look at planets in habitable zones known as the Goldilocks Zone. This is a zone where planets are not too close or too far from their host star, allowing it to sustain water.
For example, Earth is far enough from its host star, the Sun, to avoid radiation, yet close enough to stay warm.
“Given the close proximity of exoplanets to host stars, it is vital to understand how space weather events tied to those stars can affect the habitability of the exoplanet,” Dr Atri said.
His study showed that lighter stars that get less excessive radiation have more chances of having habitable planets orbiting them.
The findings could help scientists take a host star’s radiation levels into account when trying to determine an exoplanet’s ability to support life.
Dr Atri used data from Nasa’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite observatory for his study.
“The next research step would be to expand our data set to analyse stellar flares from a larger variety of stars to see the long-term effects of stellar activity, and to identify more potentially habitable exoplanets,” he said.
Dr Atri also hopes to use data from UAE’s Emirates Mars Mission to analyse how the Red Planet lost most of its atmosphere.
Scientists believe the planet once supported ancient life.
The wonders of outer space – in pictures
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
