superflares – Astronomy Now

Superflares may be less threatening than originally thought

11 August 2021 Astronomy Now

Superflares from red dwarf stars, long thought to be a threat to orbiting exoplanets, may not be as dangerous as previously thought, researchers say.

Innovative Japanese telescope spots red dwarf superflare in Leo

14 July 2020 Astronomy Now

Japanese telescope spots a dozen flares on a red dwarf star in Leo, including a powerful superflare.

Jupiter-size star generates titanic white-light ‘superflare’

20 April 2019 Astronomy Now

An enormously powerful superflare from a star the size of Jupiter challenges theories about how magnetic fields in such small suns store energy.

Red dwarf superflares pose threats to exoplanet atmospheres

19 October 2018 Astronomy Now

New observations indicate young red dwarf stars are much more likely to experience extremely powerful flares, possibly affecting exoplanet habitability.

Sun’s adolescent storms may have been key to life on Earth

24 May 2016 Astronomy Now

Some 4 billion years ago, the Sun shone with only about three-quarters the brightness we see today, but its surface roiled with giant eruptions spewing enormous amounts of radiation into space. These powerful solar explosions may have provided the crucial energy needed to create greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere, warming the planet and incubating life.

Sun-like star shows magnetic field was critical for life on early Earth

16 March 2016 Astronomy Now

Nearly four billion years ago, life arose on Earth. Life appeared because our planet had a rocky surface, liquid water, a blanketing atmosphere and a protective magnetic field. A new study of the young, Sun-like star Kappa Ceti shows that a magnetic field plays a key role in making a planet conducive to life.