Reported by the journal Nature.
Arizona State University (Temp) researcher Steve Dash at a scientific conference held from November 13 to 17 in the city of Laramie (Wyoming, USA) spoke about the discovery of new methods of searching for life outside the Earth. According to the expert, today experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have come to the conclusion that the most optimal method for searching for aliens is to analyze the characteristics of the surface of a celestial body. John Grunsfeld, NASA's scientific director (associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington) once said that life is possible on a celestial body only if the object is in the so-called "zone of life."By this term, a researcher means the presence of favorable climatic conditions (optimal distance from the star) and water resources. “Based on Kepler's data, which showed: 22% of the stars in the Milky Way are about 40-50 billion not only similar to our Sun, but also have terrestrial planets with them. Not all, of course, are in the habitable zone. But from 9 to 11 billion planets fall into it. This is the minimum. And such a phenomenal result was obtained after examining a relatively small section of the Milky Way. No more than 400 parts of the celestial sphere fell into the field of view, "Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes John Grunsfeld.but they also have terrestrial planets with them. Not all, of course, are in the habitable zone. But from 9 to 11 billion planets fall into it. This is the minimum. And such a phenomenal result was obtained after examining a relatively small section of the Milky Way. No more than 400 parts of the celestial sphere fell into the field of view, "Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes John Grunsfeld.but they also have terrestrial planets with them. Not all, of course, are in the habitable zone. But from 9 to 11 billion planets fall into it. This is the minimum. And such a phenomenal result was obtained after examining a relatively small section of the Milky Way. No more than 400 parts of the celestial sphere fell into the field of view, "Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes John Grunsfeld.
However, Steve Dash believes that the presence of liquid water is not a sign that life may exist on an exoplanet. The only right moment in its search is the very fact that any cosmic body is habitable. “Planets may be habitable and lack the classic signs of life,” Dash added. At the same time, the American researcher believes that the planets on which the oceans are located may not be enriched with phosphorus necessary for living organisms. At the same time, there is a possibility that water bodies cover some geological "clutter" and at the same time do not have the necessary minerals that make the celestial body potentially habitable.
Elizabeth Tatser, an astronomer and exoplanet researcher at the Japan Aerospace Agency's Institute for Space and Aeronautical Research in Sagamihara, said that a tandem of geological and chemical resources is needed to create favorable conditions for the origin and development of life. "The habitability of celestial bodies is not only about finding a trace of an alien life form," says Tazer. However, an expert from the Japan Aerospace Agency added that this assumption significantly complicates the search for life outside the Earth.
According to Steve Dash and his team, the most suitable exoplanet known to mankind is Ross 128b, which is located at a distance of 3.4 pares (11 light years) from Earth. However, this assumption is fundamentally different from NASA's theory of the "zone of life." As Dash added, Ross 128b is not Earth-like and rather has similar characteristics to a dwarf star. The methodology of the representatives of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in this case is erroneous, the author of the theory added. Dash urges scientists not to waste time observing exoplanets that have nothing but water. Tessa Fisher, a microbial ecologist in Arizona, added that the relationship between water availability and life is a scientific stereotype. However, the microbiologist also disagrees with Dash's theory. Even on Earth, rainwater washes phosphorus into the world's oceans, which would make life on our planet impossible if there was no land. The thing is that ocean life directly depends on the availability of oxygen, which in turn is produced not without the participation of plants, Tessa Fisher said at a scientific conference in Laramie.
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Cayman Unterbourne, a geologist in Arizona, said there is a risk of no bottom in such oceanic waters of exoplanets. The thing is that under water pressure, the upper part of the planet's surface can "dissolve". In order for the planet to be integral in such conditions, it is necessary to have several fluxes for geological activity. Only in this case can the chemical processes that are necessary for living organisms take place. “Too much water is not good,” added Cayman Unterborn. An exoplanet that is completely covered in water is quite common. The very celestial body with an ice crust can form far from the star. Only due to certain factors, when it moves closer to the celestial body, the ice turns into water and forms the world's ocean. It is known that 7 exoplanets,which are located around the star TRAPPIST-1 and are located at a distance of 41 light years from Earth, completely covered with water. However, so far it has not been possible to find life on them. “We need to keep a close eye on choosing the right planet,” says the expert.
As part of Steve Dash's presentation, the audience was asked to vote for the author's idea. 47 specialists present said that by 2040, humanity will not find life outside the Earth, 29 - answered positively to the question. Scientific discussions on this matter do not stop.
Dyl Lily