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