Manfred Cuntz

Manfred Cuntz was born on April 21, 1958, in Landau in der Pfalz in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was the first-born son of Gerhard Hermann Cuntz and Irene Emma Cuntz (née Messerschmitt) and was raised in Bornheim. His family's business was in viticulture and livestock agriculture. As the eldest son, Cuntz would have inherited the farm. Early on, however, his family deemed him unsuitable for farm work and, instead, had him focus on his education.[2]

Cuntz attended secondary school at the Eduard-Spranger Gymnasium in Landau, from which he graduated with the Abitur in 1977. Even though he was a dedicated student, especially in mathematics and the natural sciences, academic success did not come easily to Cuntz in all subjects. In fact, he had to repeat the eighth grade. After that, however, he became a top student, especially in the last years of secondary school when he was able to focus on the subjects of mathematics, chemistry, and social studies.[2]

Cuntz went on to study physics and astronomy at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.[2] There, he earned a Diplom (equivalent to having earned both a U.S. bachelor's and master's degrees) in Physics in 1985. He earned his PhD in Astronomy from the same university in 1988[1] with a dissertation on stellar atmospheric heating and stellar winds, titled Generation of Extended Chromospheres and Mass Loss of Late-Type Giant Stars due to Acoustic Shock Waves.[3]

After completing his degrees at the University of Heidelberg, Manfred Cuntz moved to the United States. He held positions as a postdoctoral research assistant in the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) at the University of Colorado from 1989 to 1991 and at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) of the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) from 1992 to 1993. In 1994, he returned to the University of Heidelberg as Habilitation Fellow. Then, he joined the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research at the University of Alabama in Huntsville from 1996 until 1999. In 2000, Cuntz became a visiting professor in the physics department of the University of Texas at Arlington, then moved up the tenure track to become Professor in 2012.[1]

He is an editor of the journal Astronomische Nachrichten (Astronomical Notes).[4]

Cuntz's research often deals with questions about the probability and possible distribution of extraterrestrial life and "is based on a pure theoretical approach." He developed "BinHab, a new online tool that can be used to calculate the regions of binary systems favorable for life." The interim dean of the UTA College of Science, James Grover, said this tool "holds enormous potential for those who study space in the search for life." [5]

In 2000, Manfred Cuntz, together with Steven Saar of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, made predictions "that planetary magnetic fields could produce detectable effects on stars". This phenomenon was later observed in 2003 by E. Shkolnik of the University of British Columbia, Canada.[6] Cuntz also argues that "extreme magnetic protection by a powerful planetary magnetic dipole field" could increase the probability that a planet is habitable even if it is subject to "extreme ultraviolet and x-ray" radiation from its star.[7]

Cuntz has worked with other researchers to "examined both the damaging and the favourable effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from stars on DNA molecules" and how it could affect "potential carbon-based extraterrestrial life forms in the habitable zones around other stars."[8] A study conducted by Cuntz, Satoko Sato, and researchers from the University of Guanajuato in Mexico found that F-type star systems "may [...] be a good place to look for habitable planets" because they have a larger "area where conditions are right for general Earth-type planets to develop and sustain life" than smaller, cooler stars like our Sun. The research demonstrated that the damage to DNA from UV radiation on planets "in the outer portions of F-star habitable zones" was "similar to the damage on Earth, if Earth did not have an atmosphere."[9]

Cuntz actively participates in education and public outreach (EPO). He has worked with The Planetarium at University of Texas at Arlington to create several shows. A 45-minute film titled Magnificent Sun, for which Cuntz co-authored the script, is intended to allow "the general public to share information and excitement about solar physics."[10] Another show, Cosmic CSI: Looking for Life in the Universe, aims to present Cuntz's "research in astrobiology to the rest of the community.”[11] Additionally, he was the Principal Investigator for the development of a 3-D planetarium film "based on NASA's research and outreach mission, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA."[12]

Outside of his academic work, Cuntz pursues examination of fake news in science by writing articles in the journal Skeptical Inquirer.[13] This has included articles about misguided criticism of the work of Albert Einstein[14] and commentary about responses from religious groups regarding the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).[15]

A publication by Cuntz on possible Earth-like planets in the star system 55 Cancri served as inspiration for Kenneth E. Ingle's science fiction novel First Contact: Escape to 55 Cancri.[16]

Cuntz has also chosen to explore urban legends. He offered contributions to Rolf Wilhelm Brednich, at that time a professor of Folklore / European ethnology at the University of Göttingen in Germany, for his book on modern legends.[17]