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How habitable zones and super-Earths lead us astray

Nature Astronomy volume 1, Article number: 0043 (2017) Cite this article

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As scientists, the terminology we choose influences our thinking as it carries our messages to colleagues and the public. In the face of pressure to turn science into clickbait, maintaining precision in the language we use is critical to dispel misinformation and, more broadly, to enable scientific progress.

The field of exoplanet research is currently experiencing a period of integration among researchers from the planetary exploration, astrobiology, and astronomical observation communities (among others). In addition, exoplanet discoveries generate strong interest from the public and a need for frequent communication of scientific discoveries to non-scientists. Together, these factors have put significant pressure on the field to develop an easily digested scientific shorthand for frequently used concepts. While useful, such terminology is often imprecise and can ultimately mislead the very audience it was designed to reach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. William B. Moore is at Hampton University and National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia 23666, USA.,

    William B. Moore

  2. A. Lenardic is at Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.,

    A. Lenardic

  3. A. M. Jellinek and C. L. Johnson are at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.,

    A. M. Jellinek

  4. C.L.J. is also at the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA.,

    A. M. Jellinek & C. L. Johnson

  5. C. Goldblatt is at University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.,

    C. Goldblatt

  6. R. D. Lorenz is at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA.,

    R. D. Lorenz

Authors
  1. William B. Moore
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  2. A. Lenardic
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  3. A. M. Jellinek
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  4. C. L. Johnson
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  5. C. Goldblatt
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  6. R. D. Lorenz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William B. Moore.

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Moore, W., Lenardic, A., Jellinek, A. et al. How habitable zones and super-Earths lead us astray. Nat Astron 1, 0043 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-017-0043

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