Read, Watch or Listen

A new study suggests that planets orbiting white dwarf stars, the remnants of sun-like stars, could be habitable. Computer simulations show that the rapid rotation of these planets, coupled with efficient heat distribution, could maintain surface temperatures suitable for liquid water, even warmer than planets around similar-temperature main-sequence stars. The James Webb Space Telescope's ability to detect planets around white dwarfs makes this a viable area of research, potentially expanding the search for habitable worlds by billions of targets.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.