"Environment Matters: How Stellar Emissions Control the Atmospheres of Exoplanets"

Stellar emissions play a pivotal role in shaping the environments of exoplanets. As stars emit a wide spectrum of radiation and particles, these emissions can profoundly influence the formation, evolution, composition, and overall fate of a planet's atmosphere. This discussion bridges the gap between astrophysical phenomena and planetary science, highlighting how solar/stellar winds, eruptions, and high-energy light contribute to atmospheric erosion, induce chemical reactions, and potentially drive the dynamics of weather and aurorae on exoplanets. Key to our exploration are systems like TRAPPIST-1, which are challenging our understanding of atmospheric retention under intense stellar activity, and the nearby Sun-like stars that will be targeted for habitable planets by the Habitable Worlds Observatory. In this talk, we will explore recent observations and theoretical models that examine interaction mechanisms between stellar emissions and exoplanet atmospheres. We will also discuss several future space missions that will provide much needed additional stellar data. By understanding the complex dynamics of these critical yet often overlooked interactions, we can better understand observed exoplanet demographics, new JWST exoplanet spectra, and predict which exoplanets might harbor conditions suitable for life as we know it.