Planets Beyond Our Galaxies
January 21st 2011 01:42
Category: Planets
A futuristic look at what an exoplanet might look like : Image CarlCan
Although most of the 500 exoplanets, or so planets beyond our solar system, that have been discovered so far are too hot to sustain human life.
The odds of discovering a small and cool enough planet that will support life are expected to increase over the next few years.
We cannot say for certain that we are the only life forms in the universe. The universe is a vast expanse similar solar systems may be found in the outreaches of other galaxies.
New techniques are being found better telescope technology will improve our chances of finding a suitable planet capable of supporting at least simple life forms, perhaps plants bacteria.
The problems of finding a small enough planet are formidable, in order to find smaller exoplanets the bigger the telescopes need to be.
One solution is to link several optical telescopes together in order to get deeper and better resolution images. The planet must have a suitable radio of gases carbon and oxygen to maintain an atmosphere.
Earth-sized exoplanets may be discovered orbiting around a similar star as WASP-12b that formed billions of years ago.
If these smaller planets do exist and have a carbon-rich atmospheres and interiors the chances of some sort of life form are possible.
Although these conditions would not totally support human habitation they would support perhaps plant life. Conditions on these planet would be tough but with evolution comes change and adaptation.
In order for this new evolving plant life to exist on these planets, it might have to survive with very little water and oxygen and plenty of methane. In the next few years we will have the technology.
To explore these distant planets to determine if they contain molecules like water and oxygen, which are essential for most life as we know it to survive.
We await to see further revelation in the future
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
"Here's looking at you kid"
Comment by Gabe Lock
LopsidedSports
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
With the onset of new technology and searching techniques the odds of finding a carbon rich planet is improving.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
OK - in our current thinking it would be extremely difficult for life to exist without water and oxygen yet the first animals that do not depend on oxygen to breathe and reproduce have been discovered by scientists on the bed of the Mediterranean Sea.
Three species of creature, which are only a millimetre long and resemble jellyfish encased in shells, were found 2.2 miles (3.5km) underwater on the ocean floor, 124 miles (200km) off the coast of Crete, in an area with almost no oxygen.
The animals, named Loriciferans due to their protective layer, or lorica, were discovered by a team led by Roberto Danovaro from Marche Polytechnic University in Ancona, Italy.
It starts to open a can of worms particular if we start to consider the prospect of any life which isn't carbon based.
Just a thumbnail observation. Great blog keep up the good work.
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
There are other forms of life that do exixt.
The only life I’m interested in studying happens to Carbon Based.