The schematic diagram shows the impact of mineral dust on the planet’s climate. Image source: “Nature·Communications” online edition
Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 9th An astronomical study published by the British “Nature·Communications” magazine on the 9th, the habitability of atmospheric mineral dust on terrestrial planets Major impact-will increase the potential livability of exoplanets. This discovery means that the interpretation of exoplanets will change in the future. When studying terrestrial exoplanets, the potential impact of mineral dust must be considered.
The so-called “habitable zone” refers to the area around the star where there is a terrestrial planet with liquid water on the surface, so it is the focus of searching for extraterrestrial life aims. The planets in the “habitable zone” also mean that they are suitable for human survival, and scientists have been trying to find such planets.
In the past 20 years, thousands of exoplanets have been discovered, they are usually too far or too close to their own stars, resulting in the temperature is not too hot It is too cold; a few planets located in the “habitable zone”, it is difficult to have liquid water and the natural environment like the earth.
Scientists now believe that the habitability of a planet also depends on the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. The mineral dust, the carbon-silicate material on the surface of the planet, is likely to affect the climate system, but until then, it has been ignored when constructing a climate model of exoplanets.
In view of this, the British Meteorological Bureau scientist Ian Porter and his colleagues have revealed for the first time how atmospheric mineral dust is suitable for terrestrial exoplanets Habitat has a major impact. They found that on tidal-locked planets (always facing the star on the same side), mineral dust cools the planet’s sun and warms the negative, thus expanding the habitable zone of such planets. They believe that mineral dust can slow the water loss of the planets inside the habitable zone and warm the planets outside the habitable zone.
By simulating the transmission spectra of exoplanets, the research team also found that mineral dust can obscure the presence of key biomarkers (such as water vapor and oxygen), which shows that the future This must be taken into account when interpreting observations related to the livability of exoplanets. And only people have an understanding of the physical, chemical andOnly with further understanding of the dynamic nature can we truly understand the climate environment of exoplanets and the possibility of the existence of extrasolar life.
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In order to find the same kind in the vast universe, human beings are really frustrated. After all, a planet like the earth is simply a miracle of the universe. Now we already know that a living planet cannot be too close or too far away from the star. It is better to have atmosphere and water, and a stable and safe environment to allow life to evolve enough time. Now scientists have discovered that an important consideration was missed in the previous modeling-planetary ore dust. Mine dust can help a planet “reverse its fate”, so that the dry is not so dry, and the cold is not so cold. Humans have considered various factors in detail and look forward to meeting other life in the vast universe at an early date.
(original title British scientists first discovered that atmospheric dust can improve the habitability of terrestrial planets)