How to find life on other planets: a new method
A chemical detective searches for life on other planets. Its tool is a mass spectrometer that identifies molecules by weight (the same device earthly forensic scientists use to analyze clues).
Cosmic Tan: How Stellar Flares Repaint Water Worlds
When astronomers peer at distant worlds, they often don't see crisp lines of water vapor or methane, but a blurry silhouette, as if the planet has thrown on a thick veil. This veil, a haze of organic particles, behaves like a temperamental photographic plate: it darkens under harsh ultraviolet light, revealing hidden chemical patterns.