Started By
Message
Super earth found with an atmosphere.
Posted on 4/8/17 at 6:54 pm
Posted on 4/8/17 at 6:54 pm
It was found close to earth relatively speaking orbiting a dwarf star. It's orbit is too close to its sun to support life but the good news is that the star hasn't blasted its atmosphere away showing that planets around dwarfs may retain their atmospheres for billions of years like this one did. There are more dwarfs in the galaxy than any other kind of star so this is good news for the search for alien life.
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 4/8/17 at 7:15 pm
1
Posted on 4/8/17 at 7:44 pm to Commander Data
The article doesn't mention the other anti-life characteristic of planets that orbit so closely to their star, tidal locking. Combined with the strong blasts of radiation they receive from dwarf stars, it seems unlikely that life could ever get established.
While dwarf stars may be the most prolific type of star, they seem rather hostile to life, at least as we know it. Stars such as our sun may be the cradles of life. They're not nearly as numerous as dwarfs but they are common everywhere in the galaxy.
While dwarf stars may be the most prolific type of star, they seem rather hostile to life, at least as we know it. Stars such as our sun may be the cradles of life. They're not nearly as numerous as dwarfs but they are common everywhere in the galaxy.
Posted on 4/8/17 at 7:59 pm to Kentucker
Do you think life could evolve on a planet that is tidally locked? Seems to have worked on a planet near the Romulan planet on Star Trek.
Posted on 4/8/17 at 8:30 pm to Commander Data
quote:
Do you think life could evolve on a planet that is tidally locked?
Life? Yes. Intelligent life? Probably not.
Current research indicates that life, as a natural chemical process, is probably ubiquitous wherever favorable conditions exist. On tidally locked planets, there is expected to be a temperate zone between the hot side facing the star and the frigid side facing away. Certainly there could be an energy source, the star, and all of the elements needed for the origination of simple life.
For the evolution of complex life, much less intelligent life, these conditions are lacking, at least when we consider the evolution of the only example of intelligent life we know of, us. From all indications, complex life needs oxygen to evolve. The connective molecules that bind cells together need oxygen to form.
So, it seems unlikely that the atmosphere of a tidally locked planet could ever be stable enough to allow the build-up of enough oxygen to feed the evolution of an aerobic species. Again, we only have one example to use when projecting the possibility of life on other worlds but this seems conclusive.
Posted on 4/9/17 at 7:03 pm to Kentucker
That is based on our only knowledge of life though.
I think it's entirely possible there could be life that exists in other forms that survive in entirely different atmospheric conditions, and possibly could not survive on earth.
I think it's entirely possible there could be life that exists in other forms that survive in entirely different atmospheric conditions, and possibly could not survive on earth.
Posted on 4/9/17 at 8:45 pm to deltaland
Yes, we have only one example of a biosphere and it's filled to the brim with life. And only one tree of life, only one form. Our one tree of life is based on DNA.
A strong question is: If life began so easily on earth, and it was easy and quick according to everything we know, why isn't there more than one tree or kind of life here? Why aren't there at least fossils of other life forms?
Scientists have searched and continue to look for evidence of other life forms but have not uncovered a single indication that anything but carbon-based life has ever existed on earth. Could this mean that life is the result of only one formula? Is carbon the only element that is versatile enough to enable the molecular links necessary for the complexity of life?
Current research seems to be trending in that direction. Let me offer an intriguing lecture by Dr. Eric Smith of the Santa Fe Institute that is at the front of this line of research. He demonstrates that an active geosphere preceeds a biosphere. It's active in that metabolism occurs amongst chemicals well before life originates.
In fact, life arises as a catalyst in this metabolic process of chemicals. Smith shows that it's just a very much more complex chemical structure that is not serendipitous in its origin.
We think of metabolism as a process of life but the reverse is actually the case. He doesn't touch on advanced life except to say that there isn't a scientific explanation for intelligence and consciousness at this time.
A strong question is: If life began so easily on earth, and it was easy and quick according to everything we know, why isn't there more than one tree or kind of life here? Why aren't there at least fossils of other life forms?
Scientists have searched and continue to look for evidence of other life forms but have not uncovered a single indication that anything but carbon-based life has ever existed on earth. Could this mean that life is the result of only one formula? Is carbon the only element that is versatile enough to enable the molecular links necessary for the complexity of life?
Current research seems to be trending in that direction. Let me offer an intriguing lecture by Dr. Eric Smith of the Santa Fe Institute that is at the front of this line of research. He demonstrates that an active geosphere preceeds a biosphere. It's active in that metabolism occurs amongst chemicals well before life originates.
In fact, life arises as a catalyst in this metabolic process of chemicals. Smith shows that it's just a very much more complex chemical structure that is not serendipitous in its origin.
We think of metabolism as a process of life but the reverse is actually the case. He doesn't touch on advanced life except to say that there isn't a scientific explanation for intelligence and consciousness at this time.
This post was edited on 4/10/17 at 9:45 am
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News