The planets surrounding TRAPPIST-1 are closer to their host star than Earth is to the sun, making them more vulnerable to solar radiation.
To much fanfare, NASA scientists announced the discovery of seven potentially habitable exoplanets surrounding a nearby red dwarf in February. However, new analysis of TRAPPIST-1 suggests the star system hosts frequent stellar flares. Scientists suggest the flares could negate the possibility of life.
TRAPPIST-1 is located 127 light-years away from Earth. It is a cool red dwarf, or M-dwarf. According to the latest observations from the Kepler space telescope's K2 mission, the star consistently hosts energetic stellar flares.
Stellar flares are triggered by the rejoining of electromagnetic bands in the solar atmosphere. The phenomenon, called magnetic reconnection, powers a high-energy release of charged particles.
