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Massive stellar flare may have fried Earth’s nearest exoplanet

The radiation explosion from Proxima Centauri has scorched hopes for habitability nearby

Proxima Centauri

TEMPER TANTRUM  Proxima Centauri released a gigantic flare on March 24, 2017, fizzling hopes that this nearby star’s Earth-mass planet is habitable.

Roberto Molar Candanosa/Carnegie Institution for Science, SDO/NASA, JPL/NASA

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Proxima Centauri has a temper. Earth’s nearest planet-hosting neighbor released a gigantic flare in March 2017, a new analysis of observations of the star shows.