StarTalk Radio Searching for Alien Worlds with Anjali Tripathi
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Jul 22, 2025 Astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi, a NASA Exoplanet Science Ambassador, dives into the fascinating world of exoplanets. She discusses cutting-edge technologies like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which aims to uncover biosignatures on distant worlds. The conversation also covers intriguing discoveries, including the presence of water ice around stars and the unique properties of 'puffy planets.' Listeners learn about the complexities and innovations in observing these alien worlds, as well as the implications for our understanding of habitability beyond Earth.
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Exoplanet Discoveries Explode
- The number of discovered exoplanets has surged rapidly, reaching nearly 6,000 and expected to grow exponentially.
- Upcoming telescopes like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will reveal tens of thousands more, expanding our cosmic catalog.
Future Exoplanet Imaging Goals
- The Habitable Worlds Observatory aims to directly image exoplanets and analyze their atmospheres for signs of life.
- It will seek biosignatures beyond just oxygen, including industrial pollutants and city lights.
Understanding Protoplanetary Disks
- Protoplanetary disks show where planets are born from gas and dust leftover after star formation.
- Radio telescopes reveal complex structures like gaps and rings indicating planet formation sites.
