Exoplanets and Astrobiology
Investigadores
Exoplanets and Astrobiology
Area 6 deals comprehensively with the study of planets and the possibilities of finding life outside our planet. Its research encompasses the study of objects within the solar system that provide clues to the formation of planets and the origin of life on Earth. It also searches for objects outside the solar system, such as dwarf stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets, particularly exoplanets in the so-called habitable zone. The aim is to understand how likely it is to find another planet like ours and what conditions are necessary for life to originate in the Universe.
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Exoplanets
Today there are more than 5000 exoplanets detected, spanning an astonishing variety ranging from rocky Earth-like worlds to Jupiter-like cold gas giants and ultra-hot planets orbiting very close to their stars. The study of these exoplanets is key to understanding the immense diversity of celestial bodies beyond our solar system, the processes that determine their evolution, and to addressing the momentous question of how many of these planets might be habitable. Through the analysis of their atmospheres, orbits, and interactions with their stars, it seeks to unravel the mysteries of their existence, offering new insights into planetary formation and the possibilities of life in the galaxy.
Low-mass stars and sub-stellar objects
Low-mass stars and sub-stellar objects are both more numerous and more difficult to detect in our galaxy, so their study and characterisation is key. Low-mass stars are of particular interest, as they are hosts to planetary systems, suggesting that most of the planets in our galaxy orbit around these less massive stars. In addition, the study of wandering planets, which wander through space without a host star, is crucial for understanding the variety of conditions under which planetary matter can arise and exist.
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary scientific discipline devoted to the study of life in the universe, encompassing the search for habitable environments both in our solar system and beyond, the exploration of the possibility and existence of extraterrestrial life, and the study of the origin and evolution of life on Earth. This area combines principles of biology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy to understand how and where life could develop in often extreme conditions compared to those on Earth. Astrobiology researchers examine everything from the chemical properties of comets and asteroids, to the atmospheres and surfaces of distant exoplanets, with the goal of identifying signs of life.
