Small red stars lack Jupiter-sized planets.

A new study has found that Jupiter-like planets are rare around small red dwarf stars, which are the most common type of star in the universe. This could have implications for the development of Earth-like planets and the search for alien life. The study examined 200 small red dwarfs and found no Jupiter-equivalent planets, suggesting that rocky planets around red dwarfs may not have evolved into Earth-like, life-friendly places. However, the absence of Jupiter-like planets means more raw material should be available for building up smaller, rocky bodies, potentially leading to rich habitability possibilities.