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In this work we address the problem of estimating the probabilities of causal contacts between civilisations in the Galaxy. We make no assumptions regarding the origin and evolution of intelligent life. We simply assume a network of…
The number of potentially habitable planets continues to increase, but we lack the time and resources to characterize all of them. With $\sim$30 known potentially habitable planets and an ever-growing number of candidate and confirmed…
Binary neutron star mergers are one of the ultimate events of massive binary star evolution, and our understanding of their parent system is still in its infancy. Upcoming gravitational wave detections, coupled with multi-wavelength…
Alpha Centauri A is the closest solar-type star to the Sun and offers an excellent opportunity to detect the thermal emission of a mature planet heated by its host star. The MIRI coronagraph on JWST can search the 1-3 AU (1"-2") region…
We present a new method for constraining the mass transfer evolution of low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) - a reverse population synthesis technique. This is done using the detailed 1D stellar evolution code MESA (Modules for Experiments in…
We introduce an improved code for simulations of star clusters, called MOCCA. It combines the Monte Carlo method for star cluster evolution and the Fewbody code to perform scattering experiments. The Fewbody was added in order to track more…
We summarize the results of recent theoretical work on the dynamical evolution of globular clusters containing primordial binaries. Even a very small initial binary fraction (e.g., 10%) can play a key role in supporting a cluster against…
This study builds on previous works, producing the most extensive prediction of the properties of such a hypothetical population to date, taking into account both Chandrasekhar and non-Chandrasekhar mass events. These results are then used…
We present results from the first three years of observations of moving group targets in the SEEDS high-contrast imaging survey of exoplanets and disks using the Subaru telescope. We achieve typical contrasts of ~10^5 at 1" and ~10^6 beyond…
Exoplanets orbiting M-dwarfs within habitable zones are exposed to stellar environments more extreme than that terrestrial planets experience in our Solar System, which can significantly impact the atmospheres of the exoplanets and affect…
The detection and characterisation of Earth-like planets with Doppler signals of the order of 1 m/s currently represent one of the greatest challenge for extrasolar-planet hunters. As results for such findings are often controversial, it is…
We have carried out a large grid of N-body simulations in order to investigate if mass-loss as a result of primordial gas expulsion can be responsible for the large fraction of second generation stars in globular clusters (GCs) with…
High-energy radiation caused by exoplanetary space weather events from planet-hosting stars can play a crucial role in conditions promoting or destroying habitability in addition to the conventional factors. In this paper, we present the…
Between 40$\%$ and 80$\%$ of cataclysmic variables (CVs) are expected to have evolved past the period-minimum and contain a degenerate donor. However, observational surveys for CVs have only been able to detect a few of these highly evolved…
A significant proportion of Milky Way stars are born in stellar clusters, which dissolve over time so that the members become part of the disc and halo populations of the Galaxy. In the present work we will assume that these young stellar…
At present, because of observational selection effects, we know of no exoplanetary systems with any planetary masses close to that of the Earth. We have therefore used computer models to see whether such planets could be dynamically stable…
Mature super-Earths and sub-Neptunes are predicted to be $\simeq$Jovian radius when younger than 10 Myr. Thus, we expect to find 5-15$R_\oplus$ planets around young stars even if their older counterparts harbor none. We report the discovery…
We study the evolution of binary stars in globular clusters using a new Monte Carlo approach combining a population synthesis code (StarTrack), and a simple treatment of dynamical interactions in the dense cluster core using a new tool for…
Young planets provide a window into the early stages and evolution of planetary systems. Ideal planets for such research are in coeval associations, where the parent population can precisely determine their ages. We describe a young…
We present a novel statistical algorithm, Stellar Ages, which currently infers the age, metallicity, and extinction posterior distributions of stellar populations from their magnitudes. While this paper focuses on these parameters, the…