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Hydrogen Atmosphere Could Keep Exomoons Habitable for Billions of Years

A study by LMU and the Max Planck Institute shows that moons orbiting free‑floating planets can retain liquid oceans for up to 4.3 billion years thanks to dense hydrogen atmospheres and tidal heating. The research demonstrates that collision‑induced absorption in high‑pressure H₂ traps heat where carbon dioxide would freeze. Tidal flexing supplies additional energy, creating stable, sun‑less habitats. The findings expand the potential habitability zone to interstellar space.