Intelligent life most likely around red dwarf stars?
Q. If we were to find other intelligent life in the galaxy, is it reasonable to suppose that it would likely be from a planet around a red dwarf star, since red dwarfs are more common and have longer lives (thereby allowing more time for life and intelligence to develop) than larger sun-like stars? Or are there reasons why life might have problems developing around red dwarfs?
Asked by Something Smells Fishy - Thu Jan 29 14:21:09 2009 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Well, first off, you have to remember red dwarf stars are much, much smaller than our own G type star. This means the habitable zone around them is going to be much further in. As a result, most planets that reside in a Class M type stars habitable zone will be tidally locked. This means that one side of the planet will always be facing the sun. You are left with half of a planet roasting like an apple in an oven, while the other half freezes over. Now, if we add in atmospheric circulation, then it's possible that these extremes won't be as bad, but they'll be there nonetheless. In addition, you have to remember the majority of class M stars end up being "flare" type stars. Meaning the amount of radiation they give off fluctuates wildly,… [cont.]
Answered by Eric P - Thu Jan 29 14:28:32 2009

How are white dwarf stars made?
Q. I was told white dwarf stars are burned out normal stars that used up all their hydrogen and then became red giants before a great colapse into very dense matter.
Asked by jim m - Wed Mar 14 17:03:51 2007 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. What you were told is true. Or sun is destined to become a white dwarf after it goes through the red giant stage in about another 5 billion years. It will then be about the size of the planet earth. At that time the earth may have been melted into the sun during its red giant stage and, if we are still around then, hopefully we will have learned to live on other planets like Mars.
Answered by Twizard113 - Wed Mar 14 17:18:25 2007

What makes dwarf stars so bright?
Q. How dwarfs can be so bright?
Asked by vagifs - Sun Mar 9 13:48:05 2008 - - 8 Answers - 0 Comments

A. A term used, oddly enough, to describe any star that is of normal size for its mass. Such stars lie on the main sequence, and are thus in the process of converting hydrogen to helium by nuclear fusion in their cores. The Sun, for example, is classified as a yellow dwarf. There are, however, other types of dwarf stars. These include white dwarfs, which are collapsed stars that are still hot and shining, black dwarfs, which are cold, dead stars, and brown dwarfs, which are not massive enough to be able to fuse hydrogen in their cores.
Answered by Brillian 8 rack Blue - Sun Mar 9 13:54:36 2008