Chinese scientists have revised the boundaries of habitable zones for small stars

Flares on small stars can expand the boundaries of zones suitable for the emergence of life. A group of researchers from China has presented a refined model of ultraviolet habitable zones (UV-HZ) for systems with cold luminaries. This was announced on April 22 by the Science X news portal.

As part of the work, the scientists assessed the likelihood of synthesizing RNA precursors — chemical processes that create the building blocks of life — under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The researchers checked to what extent the boundaries of the "ultraviolet zone" coincide with the classical habitable zone, where the existence of liquid water is possible.

Mathematical models were applied to nine confirmed exoplanets, including Kepler-1540 b, KOI-7703.01, KOI-8047.01 and others. Most of them are rocky worlds, with the exception of Kepler-1540 b, which resembles Neptune. The results showed that the ultraviolet and classical zones can overlap, but only three studied objects — KOI-8012.01, KOI-8047.01 and KOI-7703.01 — are located directly in the area of overlap of these parameters.

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"Although many exoplanets have been studied statistically, estimating the habitability of individual planets in the habitable zone is still a difficult task from both an astrobiological and an observational point of view. Assessing the habitable zones around stars by various parameters helps us to better understand the habitability of exoplanets," the text of the study says.

Astronomers have also hypothesized that the potential habitability of seven rocky worlds in the TRAPPIST-1 system remains in question. Despite the fact that the three planets are located in the so-called habitable zone of their star, the high radiation levels and features of their orbits can hinder the development of life.

In March, Universe Today magazine reported the discovery of one of the oldest stars in the universe in the dwarf galaxy Painter II. It was clarified that the PicII-503 star contains almost no iron, but is enriched in carbon.