Potential Signature of Life Report in Exoplanet

Potential Signature of Life Report in Exoplanet

Read my article on The Conversation about the scientific context, importance, and complexity of the announcement that a potential signature of life was found in a transit spectrum of the planet K2-18b. What does it mean? What are the next steps? https://theconversation.com/scientists-found-a-potential-sign-of-life-on-a-distant-planet-an-astronomer-explains-why-many-are-still-skeptical-254900

Cosmic Conversations: Communicating with the Unknown

Cosmic Conversations: Communicating with the Unknown

In the College of Science 2025 Lecture Series on “Communication”, my colleague Professor Chris Impey and I spoke about the science behind potentially communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations. This is a fascinating topic that blends astronomy, astrobiology, technology, history – and thoughts about the future of human civilization. Chris and I had a blast preparing for…

We have a ride to space!

We have a ride to space!

NASA selected SpaceX as launch provider for our Pandora Exoplanet Space Telescope. Pandora will look at 20 particularly exciting exoplanets and their host stars. The University of Arizona will provide Mission Operations and I lead the Pandora Exoplanets Working Group. Look out for more news as we approach T-0! Visit the Pandora Mission site to…

Joining The Explorers Club!

Joining The Explorers Club!

The Explorers Club is a famed group of explorers who have led scientific expeditions all over our planet – and beyond – for over a century. I recall reading – as a teenager – inspiring stories in the National Geographic about expeditions conducted by The Explorers Club. Given the long-standing excellence of TEC in scientific expeditions and advancing human…

Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities

Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities

The AAS Nova featured a nice article by Lexi Gault on our new paper in which Fuda Nguyen and I propose that the polar regions of brown dwarfs (and most gas giant exoplanets) are different from the equatorial and mid-latitude regions: The poles are in a different circulation regime (vortex-dominated) – this means that they have different…