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Powerful Solar Flares Found at TRAPPIST-1 Could Dim Chances for Life

posted by martyb on Thursday April 06 2017, @04:49PM   Printer-friendly
from the auroras++ dept.

takyon writes:

The red dwarf strikes again with 42 observed solar flares. Back in February, NASA and ESO announced the discovery of three potentially habitable Earth-like exoplanets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Astronomers analyzing data from the Kepler space telescope have observed energetic solar flares which they believe could make it less likely that the TRAPPIST-1 system could host life.

Frequent flaring in the TRAPPIST-1 system - unsuited for life? (arXiv:1703.10130)

Related: Probability of CME Impact on Exoplanets Orbiting M Dwarfs and Solar-like Stars (DOI: 10.3847/0004-637X/826/2/195) (DX)

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @10:16PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @10:16PM (#489881)

    I don't think fast bursts of energy are great for life. Good for making popcorn, though.

    Life on the star-facing side pops, and life on the shaded side enjoy sneaking over to munch it up. Rinse, repeat.

    Rename it the Orville Redenbacher system.

  • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday April 07 2017, @12:42PM

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Friday April 07 2017, @12:42PM (#490182)

    This happens annually in the Earth's polar seas - huge blooms of algae and krill when sunny, turns to nutrient goo when dark.

    --
    🌻🌻 [google.com]