With the right conditions and a bit of luck, some of the most inhospitable worlds in the universe could still be habitable.
NewsletterThis article appeared in the September/October 2021 issue ofEven as a child, before he devoted his life to the search for extraterrestrial life, Frank Drake wondered whether Earth was alone in its ability to harbor life. He wasn’t the first or the only one to wonder. There’s a reason so many are fascinated by the question: Its answer helps reveal humankind’s place in the cosmos.
Sometimes called “nomads of the galaxy” or “orphan planets,” these cold, dark worlds careen through space with no home, no solar system, no sun to orbit. Long ago, they formed around a star, but were flung out, abandoned by their parents. There are billions of rogue planets — astronomers estimate there could be at least one for every star — wandering the galaxy.
Planets like ours, in the habitable zone around a sun, were the focus of most searches for life. But those searches may have been too limiting. But Florida Institute of Technology professor Manasvi Lingam has taken this idea even further. Why should the planet have to orbit a sun at all? Can such a rogue planet still contain the ingredients for life?Building on other work that began in 1999, Lingam and his colleague Avi Loeb explore this question. In a paper published in thein 2019, they study how life might survive on a rogue planet in oceans underneath an outer ice layer.
So, the solvent requirement might be satisfied on a rogue planet. “But then there’s still a missing factor, which is: You might have liquid water, but where does the energy for organisms to metabolize [come from]? Where are they going to get the energy to sustain themselves?” Lingam says.For this, Lingam considered an unlikely source. Certain galaxies are considered active, emitting intense radiation as matter falls into a supermassive black hole at its center.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Story of Earth: From Clumping Dust to an Eventual Fiery DestructionOur planet is the only one known in the universe to host any form of life, making it unique among the cosmos. But how did it come to be that way?
Read more »
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket spotted from space before and after epic 105-satellite launch (images)Planet, which had 44 satellites on Thursday's launch, captured the photos.
Read more »
Raveena's New Song 'Rush' Is a Dance-Driven, Acid-Fueled Ode to BollywoodThe song and video follow a Punjabi space princess making friends on distant planets
Read more »