Dimitri Veras leads an interdisciplinary team of astronomers and biologists in a study exploring the dynamical and biological constraints of interplanetary panspermia. This is the theory that life can hop from planet to planet via some mechanism, most likely aboard asteroids or comets.

This work was published in Astrobiology, Volume 18, Number 9

Open access link: arXiv

CEH members involved: Dimitri Veras (lead), David Armstrong, James Blake, Jose Gutiérrez-Marcos & Hendrik Schäefer

CEH member Dr. Elizabeth Stanway published an interesting study on galactic habitability, and how it might evolve over time.

This work was publised in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 475, Issue 2, p.1829-1842

Open access link: arXiv

CEH members involved: Elizabeth Stanway, Matthew Hoskin, Greg Brown, Henry Childs & Andrew Levan

As of the 28th of June 2017, the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability has been established as a University of Warwick Research Centre. Thank you to all members of the CEH who have contributed to our work so far, and who helped to make this a reality.

Data from NASA's Cassini satellite has shown that Saturn's moon Enceladus harbours a sub-surface, salty ocean. After multiple flybys of Saturn's moon Enceladus, including one that passed through the plume of material being ejected from the moon, the various instruments on Cassini have given NASA enough information to confidently claim the existence of this ocean, and to speculate that there may even be hydothermal vents on the ocean's floor.

Dr Tiago de Luca, an assistant professor in Film Studies here at Warwick, is organising a meeting to explore the possibility of setting up a new research group to visualise the ends of the world. The meeting will aim to gather together scholars and postgraduate students from a wide range of disciplines with a view to exploring new approaches and methods regarding the Anthropocene. Given its pressing topicality, the theme is likely to be of interest to a range of disciplines, including: film, television and media studies; social sciences; politics; geography; geology; environmental studies; cultural policy; and many others. The meeting will take the form of an informal discussion over lunch led by the PI.

If you're interested in attending, please contact Dr de Luca (T.de-Luca@warwick.ac.uk) by the 28th of April 2017