Exoplanets may provide habitable conditions for billions of years, says study

Image Credit:metro [{ "selector": ".iigao-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 397px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".szfdj-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-136.35612535612518px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

According to the findings, these planets are capable of retaining temperate weather and liquid water on their surface for extended periods of time.

[{ "selector": ".qadsc-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 411px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".npkpi-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

All planets developed atmospheres that were dominated by the gases hydrogen and helium

[{ "selector": ".jnkgd-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 422px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".nidoz-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

because these two elements were easily accessible in the planet-forming components around young stars.

[{ "selector": ".wumae-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 422px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".wwdxx-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

Rocky planets in our solar system shed this atmosphere in favour of heavier substances like oxygen and nitrogen on Earth.

[{ "selector": ".oeniu-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 402px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".xeaeg-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

Large rocky exoplanets, on the other hand, may be able to keep their hydrogen and helium-dominated atmospheres if they are sufficiently far from their star.

Image Credit:science [{ "selector": ".ecxbx-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 392px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".dcmzg-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

The evolution of such planets was studied by Marit Mol Lous and colleagues at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

[{ "selector": ".bfqxj-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 422px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".sjlxm-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

They created a model to predict how long exoplanets rich in hydrogen and helium may support liquid water on their surfaces.

[{ "selector": ".tbqxs-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 402px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".aqxjk-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

According to their research, these planets might maintain a temperate surface environment for as long as eight billion years

[{ "selector": ".grpfw-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 422px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".dsajg-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

if the atmosphere is thick enough—between 100 and 1,000 times thicker than the Earth's. This depends on the mass of the planet and how far it is from its star.

[{ "selector": ".qqifr-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 382px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".kkpql-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

be updated with technology updates

[{ "selector": ".ljfkc-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 43px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".xcjqw-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 42px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".xikmb-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-179.42105263157893px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".kzkjc-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 493px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".sikqw-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(-499px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]