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SUMMARY:The search for life beyond the solar system  - Professor Nikku Ma
 dhusudhan\, Institute of Astronomy\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20260217T110000Z
DTEND:20260217T120000Z
UID:TALK242485@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Yao Ge
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: The search for life elsewhere is one of the major fr
 ontiers of modern science. Numerous efforts are underway to detect habitab
 le exoplanets orbiting nearby stars and to characterise their atmospheres 
 using current and upcoming large telescopes\, including the James Webb Spa
 ce Telescope (JWST). The detection of atmospheric signatures of habitable 
 Earth-like exoplanets is challenging due to their small planet-star size c
 ontrast and thin atmospheres with high mean molecular weight. A new class 
 of habitable exoplanets\, called Hycean worlds\, promises to expand and ac
 celerate the search for planetary habitability and life elsewhere. Hycean 
 planets are expected to be temperate ocean-covered worlds with H2-rich atm
 ospheres. Their large sizes and extended atmospheres\, compared to rocky p
 lanets of similar mass\, make Hycean worlds significantly more accessible 
 to atmospheric spectroscopy. Several candidate Hycean worlds have been ide
 ntified orbiting nearby M dwarf stars\, making them highly conducive for t
 ransmission spectroscopy with JWST. Recently\, the first JWST spectra have
  been reported for several Hycean candidates\, leading to detections of mu
 ltiple carbon-bearing molecules in their atmospheres\, with important impl
 ications for their atmospheric\, interior and surface conditions. These re
 sults are opening a promising new avenue in the search for life elsewhere.
  We will discuss recent observational and theoretical developments in the 
 exploration of habitable exoplanets\, including candidate Hycean worlds\, 
 as well as future prospects in the search for habitability and life beyond
  the solar system. \n\nBio: Nikku Madhusudhan is a Professor of Astrophysi
 cs and Exoplanetary Science at the Institute of Astronomy at the Universit
 y of Cambridge. His research interests include understanding the atmospher
 es\, interiors\, formation conditions and habitability of exoplanets. He i
 s widely known for pioneering atmospheric retrieval methods for exoplanets
  along with various theoretical and observational developments in the fiel
 d. Most recently\, his work led to a new class of habitable exoplanets\, c
 alled Hycean worlds\, and to the first detections of carbon-bearing molecu
 les in candidate Hycean worlds with JWST. He obtained his PhD at the Massa
 chusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)\, followed by postdoctoral position
 s at MIT\, Princeton University\, and Yale University\, in the USA\, befor
 e joining the faculty at the University of Cambridge in 2013\, where he ha
 s remained since.\n
LOCATION:Chemistry Dept\, now at the Wolfson Lecture Theatre
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