gaseous planets

Research shows that giant gas planets in other star systems often prevent the habitability of neighboring Earth-like planets by disrupting orbits and climates. An artist's rendering of an exoplanet system full of giant planets. Credit: NASA/Dana Berry

Chaos rules the cosmos: How giant gas planets threaten life on nearby Earth-like worlds

Jupiter, the largest planet by far in our solar system, plays an important protective role. Its massive gravitational field deflects comets and asteroids that might otherwise hit Earth, helping to create a stable environment