Life Beyond the Solar System: Observation and Modeling of Exoplanet Environments

TL;DR

This paper discusses recent interdisciplinary advances in exoplanet research, emphasizing the integration of astrophysics, planetary science, heliophysics, and Earth science to enhance the search for extraterrestrial life.

Contribution

It highlights the role of the NASA Nexus for Exoplanet System Science in fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and reviews recent developments in understanding exoplanet environments.

Findings

Integration of multiple disciplines accelerates exoplanet research

Recent progress in exoplanet environment characterization

Future prospects for detecting life beyond the solar system

Abstract

The search for life on planets outside our solar system has largely been the province of the astrophysics community until recently. A major development since the NASA Astrobiology Strategy 2015 document (AS15) has been the integration of other NASA science disciplines (planetary science, heliophysics, Earth science) with ongoing exoplanet research in astrophysics. The NASA Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) provides a forum for scientists to collaborate across disciplines to accelerate progress in the search for life elsewhere. Here we describe recent developments in these other disciplines, with a focus on exoplanet properties and environments, and the prospects for future progress that will be achieved by integrating emerging knowledge from astrophysics with insights from these fields.