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Stellar flares may expand habitable regions around small stars

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Graphical illustration depicting the liquid water habitable zone (LW-HZ) and the ultraviolet habitable zone (UV-HZ) exmained in this study. (Credit: Gao et al. (2026))

The search for extraterrestrial life has traditionally focused on exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars, which are G-type stars. But lower-mass stars, called K-type and M-type stars, are rapidly becoming objects of astrobiology, primarily because they have much longer lifetimes. This also means that the habitable zone (HZ), the distance from the star where liquid water can … Read more

California’s marine sanctuaries have revitalized some oceans. Will it expand or contract?

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Red, black and white sheep's head fish pickled in kelp.

California considering changes to marine protected areas The ongoing petition process could reduce, expand or add new protected areas along the state’s coastline. A decision is expected to be made this summer. More than a decade after the state began setting aside portions of its oceans for conservation, change may be coming to California. marine … Read more