After decades of research dedicated to finding another Earth-like planet, scientists believe they are close to a breakthrough discovery. A recent development made Northwestern University has allowed researchers to combine 3D climate modeling with atmospheric chemistry to filter through the countless planets in the
After decades of research dedicated to finding another Earth-like planet, scientists believe they are close to a breakthrough discovery. A recent development made Northwestern University has allowed researchers to combine 3D climate modeling with atmospheric chemistry to filter through the countless planets in the galaxy. This, among other exciting discoveries, has armed the space exploration community with the tools they need to find the Holy Grail of planets.
Specifically, scientists are searching for exoplanets, or planets that orbit a star. However, this can’t be any type of star. It needs to be a dwarf star like our own sun, which is a yellow dwarf star. Additionally, some scientists speculate that red dwarf stars may not emit enough photons to support life, further narrowing our search for a habitable planet. Theoretically, if an exoplanet is close enough to these stars, it can enter a habitable zone, an orbital region that can support liquid water on the surface of exoplanets.
Scientists have coined this region as the Goldilocks Zone, as it is not too hot and not too cold, but just right. Exoplanets in the Goldilocks Zone also have a breathable atmosphere that contains nitrogen, oxygen and other trace gases that are present in our own atmosphere. While both Mars and Venus are located in the Goldilocks Zone, what’s left of liquid water on Mars is frozen in permafrost and Venus’ water was boiled off its 460° celsius surface. This just goes to show how perfect the conditions must be for a life-supporting exoplanet to exist. Check out the video below to learn more about the conditions that are required to exoplanets to support life.
As astronomically rare these specific exoplanets may be, recent developments, like the one mentioned earlier, have given scientists the confidence and capabilities to continue the search. The study conducted by Northwestern University involved 3D chemistry modeling has revealed a number of important conclusions. By looking at how a star’s radiation affects the exoplanet’s atmosphere, res