Of the ten closest stars to the Sun known to host planets, seven have masses less than half that of the Sun. These small stars are common and apparently host planets in abundance, but they also flare frequently. Energetic particles, X-ray, and ultraviolet light from flares may affect planet formation and evolution.
In the first Neighborhood Lecture of the season, Dr. Alycia Weinberger will tell a tale of two nearby stars that are singeing their planets.
