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posted by Fnord666 on Saturday April 13 2019, @10:40AM   Printer-friendly
from the new-tanning-destination-vacations dept.

Alien Life Could Thrive On Four Earth-Like Planets Close To The Solar System, Says Study

Alien life could be evolving right now on some of the nearest exoplanets to our solar system, claim scientists at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Their proof is you.

It's been presumed that the high levels of radiation known to be bombarding many of the rocky Earth-like exoplanets discovered so far by astronomers precludes life, but that theory is turned on its head by new research published [open, DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stz724] [DX] in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

In "Lessons from Early Earth: UV Surface Radiation Should Not Limit the Habitability of Active M Star System", the authors say that all of life on Earth today evolved from creatures that thrived during an era of much higher levels of UV radiation assault. So why not life on alien worlds? It also poses another question: does the evolution of life actually require high levels of radiation?

The exoplanets studied are Proxima b, TRAPPIST-1e, Ross 128 b, and LHS 1140 b.

Related: ESO Confirms Reports of Proxima Centauri Exoplanet
Proxima b May Have Oceans
Seven Earth-Sized Exoplanets, Including Three Potentially Habitable, Identified Around TRAPPIST-1
Possible Habitable Planet, LHS 1140b, Only 40 Light Years Away
An Earth-Like Atmosphere May Not Survive the Radiation in Proxima b's Orbit
Hubble Observations Suggest TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanets Could Have Water
Ross 128b: A Newly Discovered "Earth-Like" Exoplanet Orbiting a Less Active Red Dwarf
Another TRAPPIST-1 Habitability Study


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  • (Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Sunday April 14 2019, @04:23AM (1 child)

    by sonamchauhan (6546) Subscriber Badge on Sunday April 14 2019, @04:23AM (#829231)

    Thanks for the information on the skyhook. I agree we don't have the tech for GEO elevator yet. I agree ion drives would be useful, and distributing them along the cable length can help, as would 'refueling' the engines' reaction mass with skyhook payloads.

    You're also right that a space elevator makes sense when you want to send a lot into space. (Also, to bring a lot *down* in an orderly manner -- no heat shields, etc). That's why it'd be ideal for sending up a lot of water and bringing down a lot of fuel. It would help solve one of the chief problems with energy: specific energy, storage and sustainability. Microwaved energy won't help drive a Caterpiller 789 mining truck.

    However, I see no future involving large habitable ships or the long term habitation of other planets (least of all that perchlorate-poisoned planet, Mars). I'm also somewhat skeptical of the benefit asteroid and moon mining can provide. But I guess if it does take off, using the space elevator to bring things down would be a good idea.

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  • (Score: 2) by deimtee on Sunday April 14 2019, @06:05AM

    by deimtee (3272) on Sunday April 14 2019, @06:05AM (#829271) Journal

    The limiting factor is always energy. The chemical engineering to remove CO2 from the air, split it up, add hydrogen from water, and produce synthetic gasoline or diesel is a solved problem. The reason it is not done is simply the cost of the energy inputs. It is not economical to do. I don't think it ever will be, really. I think we will have electric caterpillars with swappable battery packs before that. Before you say electric motors can't handle it, consider that the Bagger 288 is electrically powered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEvfD4C6ow [youtube.com] :)

    --
    If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.