During the winter of my first year of doctoral studies, I visited the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder for about two months. There, I worked with a group conducting stellar spectral observations and learned how to combine observational data with models to create spectra. Recently, many Earth-like exoplanets have been discovered orbiting stars other than the Sun. However, these stars are often different types from our Sun, meaning the planets’ atmospheres and environments may also differ from Earth’s. In particular, the intense radiation and stellar winds emitted by these stars can strip away planetary atmospheres into space. Understanding this process is crucial for assessing whether a planet could be habitable.

Since my usual research focuses on planetary atmospheres, this visit provided invaluable opportunities to discuss these topics directly with experts in the slightly different field of stellar research. The LASP research floor had numerous open workstations, and I primarily conducted my research at a lab desk. The research group’s seminars were filled with lively discussions, and I also participated in weekly paper reading sessions where each member presented a paper they found noteworthy. Mornings included time to drink coffee and chat with people across different labs. This environment, where I could casually exchange ideas with people from diverse backgrounds, was very different from lab life in Japan, and turned out to be a wonderful experience.

Boulder was a place rich in nature, surrounded by mountains. People would leave the institute well before dark, which was quite different from Japan. On days off, I went hiking in the nearby mountains. Looking down from the mountains, I could see Boulder’s townscape spread out beautifully below. Being surrounded by nature was a great way to recharge from research and get a real feel for local life.

I did eat out at restaurants, but honestly, the food wasn’t anything special. Since eating out was expensive, I mostly bought groceries at the supermarket and cooked for myself. Here’s a photo of some Japanese food I had in Boulder. It was very tasty, but it cost about three times as much as in Japan. It really made me appreciate how lucky we are in Japan to enjoy great Japanese food at reasonable prices.

Written by: Nishioka