What primary concern threatens the habitability potential of Proxima Centauri b?
Answer
Host star flaring bombarding the surface with radiation
Proxima Centauri b orbits within the Habitable Zone of its parent star, Proxima Centauri, which is an M-dwarf. A significant challenge associated with M-dwarfs is their propensity for emitting powerful stellar flares. These intense bursts of energy and high-energy particles pose a severe threat to any atmosphere the planet might possess, potentially eroding it over time or bombarding the surface with radiation levels that would be lethal to known life forms, making the retention of a protective atmosphere a critical uncertainty.
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