Astronomers have analyzed data from the decommissioned GALEX space telescope to study hundreds of thousands of red dwarf stars. In a study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, they identified 182 stellar flares on red dwarfs, revealing that these radiation emissions may pose a greater threat to potentially habitable planets than previously thought. Red dwarfs, smaller and cooler than the Sun, make up about 70% of the stars in the Milky Way and have lifespans exceeding 10 billion years. Because many Earth-sized rocky planets, some slightly larger, have already been discovered around red dwarfs—often located within their habitable zones—scientists have long speculated that these worlds could support life. However, red dwarfs have a critical characteristic: they produce frequent stellar flares, or bursts of radiation and energy, at a much higher rate than the Sun. The new study suggests that these flares could be far more dangerous to potentially habitable planets than previously believed. While most earlier studies focused on flares in optical wavelengths, the researchers in this study concentrated on ultraviolet radiation emitted by red dwarf flares. They found that 98% of the flares produced more powerful ultraviolet emissions than earlier estimates, indicating that previous research may have significantly underestimated the impact of these events. Although these flares may not prevent the emergence of life, astronomers warn they could threaten its survival. Strong ultraviolet radiation could strip planets of their atmospheres, including vital components like the ozone layer. This would make otherwise habitable planets inhospitable, even if they lie in the star’s habitable zone and have surface water. Consequently, the search for extraterrestrial life on planets orbiting red dwarfs may be more challenging than previously anticipated. The post Flares from Red Dwarfs May Threaten Potentially Habitable Planets appeared first on Anomalien.com.