Red dwarfs are by far the universe's most common stars, but it really doesn't seem like they're made for supporting life. The latest simulations suggest that the tidal forces of these stars' gravity would wipe out any chance of life.

In the next two or three years, advances in NASA's Kepler telescope will allow astronomers to determine which planets outside our solar system could potentially sustain life. Exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars are likely candidates for having Earth-like environments.