More than a third of the exoplanets discovered are entirely covered by oceans.
A thick layer of water covers about 35 percent of exoplanets - the so-called super-earths - those that are larger than our Earth. This was stated by Dr. Li Zeng of Harvard University at the recently concluded Goldschmidt Conference in Boston, USA.
Li Zeng and his team have divided the thousands of super-earths already discovered outside the solar system into two large groups. One included planets whose radius is 1.5 times greater than that of the Earth. In the other - those that are 2.5 times larger. The former are 5 times heavier than the Earth, the latter ten times.
The earth is on the far right. To the left are super-lands, those that are larger. Small super-soils are rocky, large ones are watery.
Next, the scientists drew up a mathematical model, with the help of which they determined how the planet should look in order for its mass to be related to the radius.
Modeling has shown: "lorries" are usually rocky. And the planets that are 2.5 times larger than the Earth are watery. Li Zeng assures: the mass of water on such a super-earth can reach half of its total mass. To do this, the ocean must cover the planet with a continuous thick layer. Like Stanislav Lem's Solaris.
For comparison: the share of the earth's water - with its seemingly huge volume - is negligible. It is only 0, 02 percent of the mass of our entire planet.
Researchers rightly believe that the abundance of watery planets increases the chances of finding life outside the solar system. What is reported on the Phys.org portal.
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But they warn: not every "Solaris" is comfortable. Conditions on super-lands can be disgusting: the atmosphere is water vapor, the water on the surface is boiling water, and at the bottom is ice compressed by monstrous pressure. Our usual life is unlikely to suit us. Although it is not at all excluded that even the extreme oceans of some super-lands have acquired some exotic inhabitants.
By the way, very serious scientists suggest that our - seemingly terrestrial - octopuses are actually from another planet. Most likely from the ocean planet, the abundance of which Li Tseng talks about. Cephalopods arrived on Earth in the form of eggs 275 million years ago.
Octopuses really seem to be out of this world. From some solaris.
Convincing arguments that octopuses are not local, here.
AT THIS TIME
"Solaris" may be a planet near the closest star to the Sun
Scientists continue, albeit a very remote, but still thoughtful study of the planet Proxima Centauri b, which was recently discovered near the closest star to the Sun - Proxima Centauri. It is just over 4 light years away. The goal is to understand if the "sister of the Earth", as the open planet is called, can support life. How dear is she to us?
And recently, experts from the National Center for Scientific Research of France (Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS) - specifically scientists from the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory - were encouraging. They calculated the most probable size of the "sister" and estimated its structure. Conclusion: Proxima Centauri b is an ocean planet entirely covered with water. Natural "Solaris". Like Stanislav Lem. The depth of the ocean is monstrous by earthly standards - about 200 kilometers.
The ocean planet may be located at the nearest star to us.
VLADIMIR LAGOVSKY
