Our Best Shot At Finding Alien Life Might Be Around This Type of Star

K dwarfs are relatively safe and long-lived, making them potentially ideal stellar neighborhoods for life.

By Erika K. Carlson
Jan 8, 2020 10:00 PMJan 9, 2020 2:04 PM
K Dwarf Star
Artist’s impression of a planet orbiting a K-dwarf star. These stars may be the most ideal places for finding planets with extraterrestrial life. (Credit: ESO/L. Calcada/Nick Risinger)

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As researchers search the cosmos for extraterrestrial life, it's important to look for more than life-friendly planets. Another crucial factor in whether life can survive is the star those planets orbit.

In recent years, some astronomers have suggested that a type of dwarf star, called K dwarfs, may offer a “sweet spot” for hosting life-friendly planets. Now, a group of researchers has studied a large batch of these red dwarfs to better understand their properties. They also evaluated how hospitable known exoplanets around K dwarfs may be for life.

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