The TRAPPIST-1 system is exciting because of several Earth-sized worlds within the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, but it's also a dangerous environment, with powerful superflares sweeping past the planets. How would the hardiest Earth life handle that kind of environment? Researchers exposed two types of hardy Earth bacteria to TRAPPIST-1 level flares and found that both could handle it, even without any protective shielding. Life is surprisingly durable.

The TRAPPIST-1 system is exciting because of several Earth-sized worlds within the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, but it’s also a dangerous environment, with powerful superflares sweeping past the planets. How would the hardiest Earth life handle that kind of environment? Researchers exposed two types of hardy Earth bacteria to TRAPPIST-1 level flares and found that both could handle it, even without any protective shielding. Life is surprisingly durable.