PBS Space Time Season 2015 Episode 17 Habitable Exoplanets Debunked!

In this episode of PBS Space Time, titled "Habitable Exoplanets Debunked!," the hosts explore the idea of finding habitable planets beyond our solar system. They delve into the different factors that contribute to a planet's habitability, such as distance from its star, atmospheric composition, and the presence of water.

The hosts first explain the concept of the "habitable zone," which is the range of distances from a star where a planet could potentially have liquid water on its surface. They also introduce the idea of "Goldilocks planets," which are planets that fall within this zone and have the right conditions to potentially support life.

However, the hosts quickly point out that the idea of habitable exoplanets is not as simple as it may seem. They discuss the importance of a planet's atmosphere in maintaining habitability, and highlight how a planet's location in its star's habitable zone is not the only factor that determines its potential habitability.

The hosts also explore the concept of a planet's "tidal locking," which is when one side of the planet always faces its star while the other side is in perpetual darkness. They explain how this phenomenon can cause extreme temperature fluctuations that can make a planet uninhabitable.

Despite these challenges, the hosts remain optimistic about the possibility of finding habitable exoplanets. They discuss new technologies that can help identify exoplanets with potentially habitable conditions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, and the role of citizen scientists in the search for exoplanets.

Overall, "Habitable Exoplanets Debunked!" offers a fascinating exploration of the challenges and potential of finding habitable planets beyond our solar system.