Science in a Minute 110119 Habitable Zone Exoplanets Also Need a Well Behaved Star

A new study from Rice University, in Houston, Texas, suggests an exoplanet simply residing in a star’s habitable zone may not be enough to determine its actual habitability. The planet's star also needs to be on its best behavior. According to the study, a number of Earth-like planets found orbiting in the habitable zone also circle too close to their stars to escape the effects of the star's strong magnetic fields and associated radiation.