Researchers explore the effects of stellar magnetism on potential habitability of exoplanets | Science & Technology

A new study by Rice University’s David Alexander and Anthony Atkinson extends the definition of a habitable zone for planets to include their star’s magnetic field. This factor, well studied in our solar system, can have significant implications for life on other planets, according to the research published in The Astrophysical Journal on July 9.

The presence and strength of a planet’s magnetic field and its interaction with the host star’s magnetic field are pivotal factors in a planet’s ability to support life. An exoplanet needs a strong magnetic field to protect it from stellar activity, and it must orbit far enough from its star to avoid a direct and potentially catastrophic magnetic connection.

“The fascination with exoplanets stems from our desire to understand our own planet better,” said Alexander, professor of physics and astronomy, director of the Rice Space Institute and member of the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium. “Questions about the Earth’s formation and habitability are the key drivers behind our study of these distant worlds.”

Magnetic interactions

Traditionally, scientists have focused on the “Goldilocks Zone,” the area around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist. By adding the star’s magnetic field to the habitability criteria, Alexander’s team offers a more nuanced understanding of where life might thrive in the universe.

The investigation focused on the magnetic interactions between planets and their host stars, a concept known as space weather. On Earth, space weather is driven by the sun and affects our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere. For the study, the researchers simplified the complex modeling usually…