Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability » News

PG module - Habitability in the Universe

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:40:00 GMT

The Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability convenes a Postgraduate module, "Habitability in the Universe", which is run by the Institute for Advance Teaching and Learning. This module is open to all postgraduates, from all disciplines, and covers the subject of habitability from myriad perspectives. More details can be found on the module's home page.

Welcome

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:45:00 GMT

Welcome to the website of the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability (CEH) at the University of ��TV. The CEH is a cross-disciplinary research centre that draws upon expertise from departments across the university. It is a collaborative project which works with both the sciences and arts in order to consider life beyond, and on, this planet. Please explore our webpages, and feel free to contact us if you would like to get involved.

[Panel discussion] Exoplanet K2-18b: the search for biosignatures

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 22:33:00 GMT

We are excited to announce our final event of 2025, and our first ever panel discussion event. Join us as three ��TV academics, Dr Siddharth Gandhi from Physics, Prof Hendrik Schaefer from Life Sciences, and Prof Nick Lee from WBS, discuss the case of K2-18b.

Abstract:

K2-18b is an exoplanet a few times the size of Earth, orbiting in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star. Originally discovered in 2015 using the Kepler space telescope, it is one of very few small habitable zone exoplanets currently known, and is thought to have a temperature similar to Earth. As such, it is a very interesting target for studies of exoplanet atmospheres and habitability.

Over the last few years, K2-18b has been observed using telescopes such as JWST, and studies of its atmosphere by several different research groups have identified possible signatures of methane, carbon dioxide, and water.

Earlier this year, a new study tentatively detected dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in K2-18b's atmosphere. This gas is a possible biosignature, though can be produced through non-biological means. The study sparked extensive debate in the academic literature and in public media, and the claimed detection remains controversial in terms of both the science and how that science was communicated and publicised.

In this panel discussion, experts from the University of ��TV will present their work on aspects of science relevant to the K2-18b case, and discuss how the way we communicate research can influence public opinion.

Introducing CEH coffee and networking

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:42:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce a new initiative from the CEH: coffee and networking.

This will be a regular series of relaxed, social events where CEH members can chat, learn about each other's research, and build a network of contacts for future collaboration. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

These sessions will run on the last Friday of months without a CEH seminar, from 14:00 to 15:00. Location is TBC.

The first coffee and networking session is on Friday 22nd March - we hope to see you there!

Photoelectrochemical Devices for Space Applications

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:23:00 GMT

We are thrilled to welcome Dr Katharina Brinkert from the Chemistry Department at the University of ��TV as the next speaker in the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability seminar series. Dr Brinkert will be giving a talk titled 'Photoelectrochemical Devices for Space Applications'.

Abstract:
Human deep space exploration will rely on efficient and sustainable life support systems for the production of oxygen and other chemicals as well as the recycling of carbon dioxide. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices are investigated for the light-assisted production of hydrogen and carbon-based fuels from CO₂ within the green energy transition on Earth [1]. Similarly to natural photosynthesis, they only require water and solar energy for the process and release oxygen as a by-product. Their monolithic, compact design comprising integrated semiconductor-electrocatalyst systems for light absorption, charge separation and catalysis as well as their sole reliance on solar energy makes them attractive for applications in space, where they can directly convert solar into chemical energy without requiring additional accessories [2,3]. This talk highlights our recent experiments with PEC devices in microgravity environments realised for 9.3 s at the Bremen Drop Tower and links results regarding device efficiencies to gas bubble management [4] and optoelectronic simulations [5]. We will discuss obstacles such as the limiting solar irradiance on Mars as well as the reduced gravitation on the Martian and lunar surface for the application of PEC and other electrochemical devices in these environments and point to practical, sustainable solutions how to overcome them.

[1] Fehr A. M. K. et al. (2023). "Integrated halide perovskite photoelectrochemical cells with solar-driven water-splitting efficiency of 20.8%", Nat. Commun. 14 (3797).
[2] Brinkert K. et al. (2018). Nat. Commun. 9 (2527).
[3] Brinkert K. and Mandin, P. (2022). "Fundamentals and future applications of electrochemical energy conversion in space", npj Microgravity 52
[4] Romero-Calvo Á. et al. (2022). "Magnetic phase separation in microgravity", Microgravity 8 (32)
[5] Ross B. et al. (2023). "Assessment of the technological viability of photoelectrochemical devices for oxygen and fuel production on Moon and Mars", Nat. Commun. 14, (3141)

Planets, Exoplanets, and Life

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 08:00:00 GMT

We are very excited to welcome Prof Jane Greaves from Cardiff University as the next speaker in the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability seminar series. Prof Greaves will be giving a talk titled "Planets, Exoplanets, & Life" on Friday 16th June 2023.

Abstract:
So what was all that furore about phosphine? I will report on new observations of phosphine in Venus' clouds, and place these in the context of possible sources, such as active volcanoes or even extant life. New techniques are being developed for agnostic biosignatures, and new models are emerging for biosignature gases in different planetary environments. I will discuss the crossover of these advances for exoplanetary science and some of the lessons learned from solar system life searches. Finally, I will introduce some ongoing observing campaigns that can help to assess habitability of rocky exoplanets.

A Pathway to the Confirmation and Characterisation of Habitable Alien Worlds

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:37:00 GMT

We are delighted to welcome our own Dr Heather Cegla as the next speaker in the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability seminar series. Dr Cegla will be giving a talk titled 'A pathway to the confirmation and characterisation of habitable alien worlds'.

Abstract:
Are we alone in the Universe? Since the confirmation of the first planets outside our solar system in the 1990s, we have made tremendous progress towards answering this question. Yet, the confirmation of a true Earth-analogue still evades us. On top of this, if we are truly to understand the origins of life in the cosmos, we must also create a complete picture of planetary formation, evolution, and habitability. However, each of these aspects necessitates a detailed knowledge of Sun-like stars. This is because we study exoplanets indirectly by analysing their much more luminous host stars. For example, most planet confirmation relies on the Doppler wobble of the host star, induced by the presence of the planet. Moreover, we can learn about a planet's dynamical history from mapping its projected orbit as it transits its host star. Hence, if there are inhomogeneities on the stellar surface, they can impact planetary interpretations and even completely swamp the signals from rocky worlds. In this talk, I will discuss how we confirm and characterise planets outside our solar system and how our knowledge of their host stars poses a fundamental hurdle we must overcome on the pathway to rocky, temperate worlds.

There’s No Place Like Home: Placing Earth in its Astronomical and Geological Contexts

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:01:00 GMT

It is our pleasure to welcome Dr Raphaëlle Haywood from the University of Exeter to the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability seminar series. Dr Haywood will be giving a talk titled 'There’s No Place Like Home: Placing Earth in its Astronomical and Geological Contexts'.

Abstract:
Recent revolutionary discoveries in astronomy are showing that Earth is one of billions of planets, and that terrestrial, temperate planets are commonplace in our galaxy. Geological records indicate that Earth has been many different worlds over time, and life has shown extraordinary resilience through these planetary changes. If we could go to the stars and point our telescopes back at Earth, what would we see? How does life alter Earth's astronomical character? We will look at one of Earth's defining ecosystems: the Amazon rainforest, which is observable from cosmic distances. We will reflect on the impact of various human civilisations. Ultimately, we will draw on these astronomical and geological perspectives to demonstrate that humanity's flourishing is profoundly tied to maintaining this world, here, that we co-evolved with.

Phosphine detected in Venus' atmosphere

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 11:00:00 GMT

On 14 September 2020, a team of astronomers led by Dr Jane Greaves of Cardiff University announced the detection of phosphine, a potential biomarker, in the atmosphere of Venus. On Earth, phosphine can result from natural processes such as lightning and volcanic activity, but only in small amounts; by comparison, the amount of phosphine detected in Venus' atmosphere is relatively large. The only known processes that produce phosphine on Earth in similar quantities are biological in origin.

It must be stressed that this does not mean that there is life on Venus. What has been announced is a signal that is a possible sign of life, with a strength for which there are no plausible known abiotic explanations. There may, of course, be currently unknown methods of producing it in the amounts required. But this is still an exciting signal that warrants more investigation.

Exploring the stars: Six star types you should know about

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 09:00:00 GMT

We are familiar with the idea that the twinkling pinpricks of light in the sky are stars, like our own Sun, but not all those stars are the same. There are many types of stars, and we can see most of these in the night sky, explains Dr Elizabeth Stanway.