- Joined
- Jul 19, 2004
- Messages
- 29,622
- Location
- Out of Bounds
In searching for exoplanets that may harbor life we've been biased toward planets which are the most similar to our earth. The fact that our earth hosts life as we know it doesn't necessarily mean earth is optimal for life. Newly published research identifies a couple of dozen known exoplanets that are arguably more conducive to life than our own.
Some Planets May Be Better for Life Than Earth: Researchers Identify 24 Superhabitable Exoplanets
Earth is not necessarily the best planet in the universe. Researchers have identified two dozen planets outside our solar system that may have conditions more suitable for life than our own. Some of these orbit stars that may be better than even our sun.
A study led by Washington State University scientist Dirk Schulze-Makuch recently published in the journal Astrobiology details characteristics of potential “superhabitable” planets, that include those that are older, a little larger, slightly warmer and possibly wetter than Earth. Life could also more easily thrive on planets that circle more slowly changing stars with longer lifespans than our sun.
The 24 top contenders for superhabitable planets are all more than 100 light years away, but Schulze-Makuch said the study could help focus future observation efforts ...
“With the next space telescopes coming up, we will get more information, so it is important to select some targets,” said Schulze-Makuch, a professor with WSU and the Technical University in Berlin. “We have to focus on certain planets that have the most promising conditions for complex life. However, we have to be careful to not get stuck looking for a second Earth because there could be planets that might be more suitable for life than ours.” ...
Habitability does not mean these planets definitely have life, merely the conditions that would be conducive to life. ...
“It’s sometimes difficult to convey this principle of superhabitable planets because we think we have the best planet,” said Schulze-Makuch. “We have a great number of complex and diverse lifeforms, and many that can survive in extreme environments. It is good to have adaptable life, but that doesn’t mean that we have the best of everything.” ...
FULL STORY: https://scitechdaily.com/some-plane...rchers-identify-24-superhabitable-exoplanets/