(ORDO NEWS) — Scientists from Switzerland are confident that the term “potentially habitable exoplanet” must be revised without fail.
Scientists have noted that rocky exoplanets that resemble the Earth, and also have an atmosphere consisting of helium and hydrogen, can have liquid water on their surface. Accordingly, life may well exist on such planets, moreover, more than one billion years.
“Exoplanets are those planets that are located outside of our solar system. It is believed that liquid water is required for the existence of life on the planet. It is she who is an important component that provoked the emergence of life on Earth.
Additionally, the atmosphere of a potentially habitable planet should consist of nitrogen and oxygen. But the latest study demonstrates that it’s time to change our understanding of potentially habitable planets, ”says Marit Mol Luz from the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Experts suggest that even if the atmosphere of the planet initially consists of helium and hydrogen, then for billions of years life can still be present on it.
Scientists have noted that on rocky planets resembling Earth, which are at a sufficient distance from their star, an atmosphere in which there is a lot of helium and hydrogen can remain until today. The latest study showed that life on exoplanets of this type could well adapt to slightly different conditions than those present on Earth.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that at the very beginning of the existence of the Earth, its atmosphere consisted mainly of helium and hydrogen. Then, gradually, these elements began to evaporate and instead of them oxygen and nitrogen appeared, which are considered heavier.
“There are suggestions that there may be rocky planets that have lost their original atmosphere and a completely different one has appeared instead. In this case, the planets must be large enough so that they can hold this atmosphere. Liquid water may well appear on their surface, but detecting such planets is extremely problematic, ”says Mol Luz.
To date, experts have managed to find exceptionally huge rocky exoplanets that rotate at a minimum distance from their star. Therefore, they cannot be called potentially habitable. At the same time, experts suggest that the “correct” planets can be found with the help of more powerful equipment. They’re going to use the Webb telescope.
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