Interstellar Updates

 

These are items of interest to the interstellar exploration community that we’ve found in our quest for information that will help us advance toward our goals.  If you know of anything we’ve overlooked, or any sources of such information we should monitor, or if you would like to be added to our IRG-updates mailing list and receive these updates in you email every weekday, please send that information to info@irg.space.

You can now search our database of interstellar updates and find items of interest to you.

January 22, 2026 updates

Slowing planetary rotation influences ocean nutrient cycling and oxygenation
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw3368

Thermodynamic Signatures and Information-Theoretic Constraints in SETI: A Multi-Messenger Approach
https://zenodo.org/records/18321485

The Plato Mission: revealing habitable planets around sun-like stars
https://link.springer.com/collections/egaaiadfdi

Core–envelope miscibility in sub-Neptunes and super-Earths
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09970-4

Life and AI at NASA: An Ethnography of How Scientists and Engineers Make Tools to Explore Other Worlds
https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/550000

Characterising planetary systems with SPIRou: Questions about the magnetic cycle of 55 Cnc A and two new planets around B
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa56146-25/aa56146-25.html

TOI-333b: A Neptune-desert planet around an F7V star
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa57014-25/aa57014-25.html

Astronomy and Philosophy: Conceptual and Methodological Foundations and Challenges
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/astronomy-and-philosophy/E0902803DC83606E7D5C9F87D16CC116

Rare Near-opposition Alignment of 3I/ATLAS on 2026 January 22
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ae3a77

Out There No One Has a Right to Die
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bioe.70083

The Enhanced Starshot Concept: Beyond Breakthrough Starshot, towards an Enhanced Framework for Interstellar Travel
https://www.oxfordjss.org/january-2026-vol-3-issue-1-1/the-enhanced-starshot-concept%3A-beyond-breakthrough-starshot%2C-towards-an-enhanced-framework-for-interstellar-travel

Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS: An Integrated Theoretical Framework
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399931158_Interstellar_Object_3IATLAS_An_Integrated_Theoretical_Framework

Exoplanets beyond the Conservative Habitable Zone. I. Habitability
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae21d7

Exoplanets beyond the Conservative Habitable Zone. II. Occurrence
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae2262

Most Hot Jupiters Were Cool Giant Planets for More Than 1 Gyr
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14367

PyISH: Python Integral Field Spectroscopy Simulation for HWO
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14432

SETI Observations of k-Hz Periodic Radio Signals from Five Nearby Stars with FAST at L Band
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14630

ExoMiner++ 2.0: Vetting TESS Full-Frame Image Transit Signals
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14877

How a Close-in Planet Protects its White Dwarf Host from Pollution
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.15005

Comparative biosignatures with systemic retrievals
https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.01512

Observation of an Accreting Planetary-Mass Companion with Signs of Disk-Disk Interaction in Orion
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.04944

January 21, 2026 updates

The Student Collaboration of the Interstellar Mapping And Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Mission: The 3UCubed CubeSat Project and Associated Space Science and Engineering Education
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-026-01269-8

A Nomenclature for Individual Exocomets
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-025-01261-8

A Study on Habitability Assessment of Kepler-22b and a Rapid Interstellar Transit Dynamics Model Based on Five-Dimensional Spacetime Manifold Folding and Nonlocal Quantum-Coherent Navigation
https://zenodo.org/records/18321666

From the Search for Extraterrestrial Life to Interstellar Civilizations: A Stepwise Logical Analysis of Astrobiological and Technological Uncertainties
https://zenodo.org/records/18321628

An interstellar energetic and non-aqueous pathway to peptide formation
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02765-7

Silane–Methane Competition in Sub-Neptune Atmospheres as a Diagnostic of Metallicity and Magma Oceans
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag133/8431334

A planet–host ratio relation to synthesize microlensing and transiting exoplanet demography from Roman
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag088/8429605

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Theory and practice
https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-4796-9

Metrics for Optimizing Searches for Orbital Precession and Tidal Decay via Transit Timing and Occultation Timing
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ae2a23

Validation of a Third Earth-sized Planet in the TOI-2267 Binary System
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ae2be9

Outward Migration of a Gas Accreting Planet: A Semianalytical Formula
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae2612

Concurrent Accretion and Migration of Giant Planets in their Natal Disks with Consistent Accretion Torque. II. Parameter Survey and Condition for Outward Migration
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae261a

On the Importance of Geometry in Exoplanet Irradiation: Implications for the Day–Night Contrast
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae29ea

Evaluating Star–Planet Interactions with Zeeman Doppler Imaging: Case Study in YZ Ceti
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae2619

JWST Exoplanetary Worlds and Elemental Survey (JEWELS). I. High-precision Chemical Abundances of 20 FGK Planet-hosting Stars from JWST Cycle 2
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ae2a29

Machine learning for the prioritization of Dyson sphere candidates
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957417426001466

Sonification of Exoplanet Transit Light Curves from the Kepler Mission
https://www.scholarlyreview.org/article/154963-sonification-of-exoplanet-transit-light-curves-from-the-kepler-mission

Orbital Stability of Closely-Spaced Four-planet Systems
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11692

Exoplanet atmospheres and demographics in the 2040s
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11695

Habitable Worlds Observatory’s Concept and Technology Maturation: Initial Feasibility and Trade Space Exploration
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11803

Interior dynamics of envelopes around disk-embedded planets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12074

Revisiting the exoplanet radius valley with host stars from SWEET-Cat
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12396

Observational Signatures of Planetary Tidal Disruption Events Around Solar-Mass Stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12501

Analytic Modeling of Tidally Locked Rocky Planet Atmospheres Across Dynamical Regimes
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12556

BOWIE-ALIGN: Sub-solar C/O ratio and metallicity atmosphere of the misaligned hot Jupiter HAT-P-30b
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13104

Toward Reliable Interpretations of Small Exoplanet Compositions: Comparisons and Considerations of Equations of State and Materials Used in Common Rocky Planet Models
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13176

The Occurrence Rate of Nearby Planetary Companions to Hot Jupiters
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13302

Four Cold Super-Jupiters Revealed by Extended and Complex Microlensing Signals
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13450

Architectures of Exoplanetary Systems. IV: A Multi-planet Model for Reproducing the Radius Valley and Intra-system Size Similarity of Planets around Kepler’s FGK Dwarfs
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13480

Follow-up of three exocomet-host candidates
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13850

Discovery and characterisation of two exoplanets orbiting the metal-poor, solar-type star TOI-5788 with TESS, CHEOPS, and HARPS-N
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14045

Pre-computed aerosol extinction, scattering and asymmetry grids for scalable atmospheric retrievals
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14177

The PAIRS project: a global formation model for planets in binaries. I. Effect of disc truncation on the growth of S-type planets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14214

The PAIRS project: a global formation model for planets in binaries. II. Gravitational perturbation effects from secondary stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14215

Using observations of escaping H/He to constrain the atmospheric composition of sub-Neptunes
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14254

On the importance of geometry in exoplanet irradiation : Implications for the day-night contrast
https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.15021

An Improved Machine Learning Approach for Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation in FAST-SETI Survey Archival Data
https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.15809

January 20, 2026 updates

The ALMA survey to Resolve exoKuiper belt Substructures (ARKS) — I: Motivation, sample, data reduction, and results overview
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa56489-25/aa56489-25.html

Silane–Methane Competition in Sub-Neptune Atmospheres as a Diagnostic of Metallicity and Magma Oceans
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag133/8431334

A planet–host ratio relation to synthesize microlensing and transiting exoplanet demography from Roman
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag088/8429605

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence — Theory and practice
https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-4796-9

Validation of a Third Earth-sized Planet in the TOI-2267 Binary System
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ae2be9

JWST Exoplanetary Worlds and Elemental Survey (JEWELS). I. High-precision Chemical Abundances of 20 FGK Planet-hosting Stars from JWST Cycle 2
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ae2a29

Observational Baseline and Laminar Coupling State in Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS (SPT v1.3 — Part V)
https://zenodo.org/records/18157921

Sonification of Exoplanet Transit Light Curves from the Kepler Mission
https://www.scholarlyreview.org/article/154963-sonification-of-exoplanet-transit-light-curves-from-the-kepler-mission

Accelerating exoplanet climate modelling:. A machine learning approach to complement 3D general circulation model grid simulations
https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202555631

Aligned, Misaligned and Polar Orbits of Hot Jupiters: Measuring Spin-Orbit Angles via Doppler Tomography with HARPS-N
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11313

January 19, 2026 Updates

A Space Propulsion Concept Based on Inertial Confinement: Exploring Nuclear Fusion Utilizing Polywell Geometry
https://www.proquest.com/openview/7022992758055bda62a87a6d444a9571

Could Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Be from Earth’s Dark (Matter) Biosphere? The Inter-Terrestrial Aliens” Hypothesis (ITH)
https://www.academia.edu/145304901/Could_Unidentified_Aerial_Phenomena_UAP_Be_from_Earths_Dark_Matter_Biosphere_The_Inter_Terrestrial_Aliens_Hypothesis_ITH_

Exoplanet Detection Using TESS, Kepler, and HST/COS Data
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399798328_Exoplanet_Detection_Using_TESS_Kepler_and_HSTCOS_Data

The Meyler–Fuchs Hybrid Warp Drive: A Positive-Energy, Toroidal-Shell Design with Hyperbolic Shift DynamicsAst
https://www.academia.edu/145403845/The_Meyler_Fuchs_Hybrid_Warp_Drive_A_Positive_Energy_Toroidal_Shell_Design_with_Hyperbolic_Shift_Dynamics

The Activated Bridge: Dynamically-Induced Traversable Wormholes via Counter-Rotational Gravitomagnetic Shear
https://www.academia.edu/145733182/The_Activated_Bridge_Dynamically_Induced_Traversable_Wormholes_via_Counter_Rotational_Gravitomagnetic_Shear

Exploring Undiscovered Principles at the Life-Non-Life Interface Through Chemistry, Physics, and Stellar Phenomena
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399759055_Exploring_Undiscovered_Principles_at_the_Life-Non-Life_Interface_Through_Chemistry_Physics_and_Stellar_Phenomena

The impact of disc photoevaporation on the long-term evolution of giant planets in mean motion resonances
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.10811

Rotation Period of 3I/ATLAS After Perihelion from Jet Position Angle Wobble and Photometric Variability
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.10860

Detection of four cold Jupiters through combined analyses of radial velocity and astrometry data
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11280

KMT-2025-BLG-1616Lb: First Microlensing Bound Planet From DREAMS
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11469

A predictive framework for realistic star-planet radio emission in compact systems
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa57706-25/aa57706-25.html

True spin-orbit obliquity distribution: Data-driven confirmation of no clustering of misaligned planets
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa55173-25/aa55173-25.html

Young M-dwarfs flare activity model: Towards better exoplanetary atmospheric characterisation
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa56844-25/aa56844-25.html

Low-density worlds reveal the secrets of planetary systems
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0262407926000746

The Trajectory of 3I/ATLAS Through the Inner Solar System: Close Encounters and Possible Collisions
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ae2ea6

Shibastra B Theory for Earth to Proxima Centauri B Journey
https://www.academia.edu/145758935/Shibastra_B_Theory_for_Earth_to_Proxima_Centauri_B_Journey

Discrete Reference Frames Along the Earth-Black Hole Axis: A Conceptual and Quantitative Analysis of Proper Time Near the Event Horizon
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6036994

Exotic Physics Teleportation via Traversable Wormholes: Theoretical Foundations, Mathematical Structure, Evidence Status, and Engineering Pathways Toward Macroscopic Transport
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399825932_Exotic_Physics_Teleportation_via_Traversable_Wormholes_Theoretical_Foundations_Mathematical_Structure_Evidence_Status_and_Engineering_Pathways_Toward_Macroscopic_Transport

January 16, 2026 Updates

Momentum Exchange with Radiation in Euclidean Special Relativity: A Geometrical Interpretation with Implications for Propulsion
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399667411_Momentum_Exchange_with_Radiation_in_Euclidean_Special_Relativity_A_Geometrical_Interpretation_with_Implications_for_Propulsion

Technological Singularity despite Decentralized Consumption (TSDC) and Its Implications for Extraterrestrial Civilization Exploration
https://www.academia.edu/129756369/Technological_Singularity_despite_Decentralized_Consumption_TSDC_and_Its_Implications_for_Extraterrestrial_Civilization_Exploration?sm=b&rhid=37397469293

Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO): Living Worlds Community Working Group: The Search for Life on Potentially Habitable Exoplanets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.09766

HOPS-288: A Laboratory for Complex Organics in Proto-multiple Systems
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08948

Photoactive elemental sulfur allotropes promote extensive ammonia synthesis in Venus-like atmosphere
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12783716/

Electric Fields Can Assist Prebiotic Reactivity on Hydrogen Cyanide Surfaces
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.5c01497

Observation of a mixed close-packed structure in superionic water
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67063-2

Modeling the Effect of C/O Ratio on Complex Carbon Chemistry in Cold Molecular Clouds
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.04103

A comprehensive study of the relations between the properties of planetary systems and the chemical compositions of their host stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00962

The Persistent Thermal Anomalies in Rocky Worlds
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00412

Mass estimates of the young TOI-451 transiting planets: Multidimensional Gaussian Process on stellar spectroscopic and photometric signals
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag087/8425381

The Influence of Chemical Structure on the Electronic Structure of Propylene Oxide
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/23/11729

Investigation of Space Biocementation under Microgravity via Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949929126000021

Cross-domain convergence of generative models: From biomedical to astronomical applications
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266682702600006X

A Photonic Sail of Utmost Simplicitiy: The Ribbon
https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2026-1833

Propulsion Research and Academic Programs at UAH, Space Nuclear Propulsion Focus – 2025
https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2026-0061

Young M-dwarfs flare activity model: Towards better exoplanetary atmospheric characterisation
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa56844-25/aa56844-25.html

True spin-orbit obliquity distribution: Data-driven confirmation of no clustering of misaligned planets
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/01/aa55173-25/aa55173-25.html

A Robust Launching Mechanism for Freely-Floating Planets from Host Stars with Close-in Planets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.09835

How disc initial conditions sculpt the atmospheric composition of giant planets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.10285

TOI-3862 b: A dense super-Neptune deep in the hot Neptune desert
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.10450

sponchpop II: Population Synthesis to Investigate Volatile Sulfur as a Fingerprint of Gas Giant Formation Histories
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.10508

The GAPS programme at TNG LXXI. A sub-Neptune suitable for atmospheric characterization in a multiplanet and mutually inclined system orbiting the bright K dwarf TOI-5789 (HIP 99452)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.11490