We don’t really think of plants as life forms that require sleep, and while it’s true that plants don’t “sleep” in the way that animals do, they operate on a circadian rhythm all the same. Researchers have long been fascinated with the mechanisms and schedules that govern the life of a plant, and new research …
In the world of astronomy, there would be no bigger accomplishment than finding life on a planet outside of Earth. We know there’s no intelligent life in our solar system outside of Earth. There’s still a chance we find some form of life on Mars or, better yet, beneath the icy crusts of moons like …
Based on what we know about the history of Earth, life is thought to have taken root here somewhere around 4 billion years ago, give it take a few hundred million years. That’s an extremely large window of time when the very first single-celled organisms may have emerged, and scientists still aren’t sure exactly how …
Understanding when and where life first took root on Earth is something that scientists have struggled with for a long time. The best evidence of the beginnings of life comes in the form of molecular signatures in ancient rocks, like those of the Dresser Formation which is located in present-day Australia. New research reveals the …
Scientists believe there are some very basic things that are required for a planet to support life, including water and an atmosphere. We’ve yet to spot a planet that looks like Earth, with continents, water, and, of course, life. New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that planets like Earth might actually be abundant …
NASA’s Perseverance rover is rapidly approaching its destination on Mars, with an expected landing later this month. NASA and other space agencies take great care to ensure that microbes and other contaminants from Earth don’t hitch a ride on missions to other worlds. The precautions can seem extreme, but the importance of ensuring that other …
Scientists studying the nuances of human death have struggled with defining when death actually happens and when a person has crossed the threshold, making death an inevitability. New research reveals that end-of-life care, which is often a stressful topic for family and medical staff when a person is reaching their end, has a good handle …
Findings of what was thought to be phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus sparked debate over the possibility of life existing on the harsh planet. Now, a new research report offers an explanation that doesn’t hinge on the presence of phosphine and may shoot down the entire theory that life exists on or around Venus. …
The nearby star Proxima Centauri has long been considered a potential place to search for extraterrestrial life. The more we learn about the star, the more it looks like living on a planet near the star might be impossible. Space weather, including blasts of charged particles from the star, would make life in the system …
Scientists have spent an incredible amount of manpower attempting to determine what conditions support life, and why Earth is so perfect for living things. Now, a researcher simulated 100,000 planets to try to determine how lucky we are that Earth has remained habitable for as long as it has. As it turns out, we’re incredibly …
