: Study finds speculations about astrobiology are frequently in quotes of researchers and set high expectations about exoplanet research
Thu 14 Aug 2025; Science communication researchers from Leiden University have studied the communication of astrobiology in academic papers, press releases, and news articles published in almost three decades. They found that news articles presented more speculations than press releases, while papers exhibited substantially less. They also showed that speculative content is frequently in quotes of researchers, and that exoplanet research was the area most associated with heightened expectations about the search for life elsewhere. The paper, led by Danilo Albergaria, has been published in PLOS One. BEELD | Artistieke impressie van TOI 700, een planetenstelsel op 100 lichtjaar afstand in het sterrenbeeld Goudvis, waarin exoplaneet TOI 700 d zich bevindt. Bron: NASA/JPL.
Read more PLOS article Publ. Thu 14 Aug 2025