Computer simulations of the formation of planets orbiting in the habitable zones of low mass stars such as Proxima Centauri by astrophysicists at the University of Bern show that these planets are most likely to be roughly the size of the Earth and to contain large amounts of water.
In August 2016, the announcement of the discovery of a terrestrial exoplanet orbiting in the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri stimulated the imagination of experts and the general public. This star is the nearest star to our sun, though it is 10 times less massive and 500 times less luminous. This discovery, together with the discovery in May 2016 of a similar planet orbiting an even lower-mass star (Trappist-1), convinced astronomers that such red dwarfs (as these low-mass stars are called) might be hosts to a large population of Earth-like planets.
Indeed, we already know that red dwarfs do have advanced civilizations.
(Score: 3, Informative) by MadTinfoilHatter on Monday October 31 2016, @03:33AM
There is actually a fairly good Wikipedia article [wikipedia.org] about it - and it doesn't really seem promising for the red dwarwes. Tidal locking, star flaring, and even the suitability of the light spectrum for photosynthesis, are all severe problems. Just about the only thing they have going for them is that there are lots of them...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 31 2016, @07:15AM
The Wikipedia article is based on rapidly changing astrophysics/biology. Hence studies like this one. JWST will be providing much better information about exoplanets and their atmospheres in a few years.
Plant life will probably evolve an organelle suited for the kind of light the star provides. Tidal locking is not that bad since the atmosphere can normalize the temperature and a safe zone can form between the light and dark side of the planet.
If JWST finds planets with thick atmospheres and water despite flares, then life could survive the flares.
Moons orbiting a gas giant orbiting a red dwarf might have life.