Finding life in the Universe: Goldilock places around stars and stellar systems

International Conference on Astrophysics and Particle Physics

December 08-10, 2016 Dallas, Texas, USA

Manfred Cuntz

University of Texas, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Astrophys Aerospace Technol

Abstract :

The search for life in the Universe is the fundamental topic of exobiology. The aim of my presentation is to comment on Galactic aspects as well as to explore which types of stars provide environments most consistent with exolife. Besides the sizes of the stellar habitable zones, we will also discuss the potential impact of energetic radiation (i.e., EUV and X-rays) on habitability. Finally, we will study the possibility of exolife for planets in multiple stellar systems, noting that in any of those systems the orbital stability of planets as well as the radiative environments deserves careful considerations.

Biography :

Manfred Cuntz has received his Doctorate degree from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. His research career included affiliations with the University of Colorado at Boulder, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Currently, he is a Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). His research involves solar and stellar astrophysics, extra-solar planets, and astrobiology. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving on numerous review panels with NASA and NSF.

Email: cuntz@uta.edu