Super-Earth unlikely to transfer life
Scientists believe that conditions suitable for life might exist on Planet d, known as 'super-Earth' in the Gliese 581 planetary system.
Washington: Scientists believe that conditions suitable for life might exist on Planet d, known as 'super-Earth' in the Gliese 581 planetary system.
But, in contrast to our own solar system, the exchange of living microbes between 'super-Earth' and planets in that solar system is not likely to occur, according to a Purdue research team.
Moon rocks and Mars meteorites have been found on Earth, which led Jay Melosh, distinguished professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, to previously suggest living microbes could be exchanged among planets in a similar manner.
"One of the big scientific questions is how did life get started and how did it spread through the universe," said Melosh.
"That question used to be limited to just the Earth, but we now know in our solar system there is a lot of exchange that takes place, and it’s quite possible life started on Mars and came to Earth. There’s also been a great deal of discussion about the possible spread of life in the universe from star to star," he explained.
But the Purdue team has found that super-Earth is unlikely to transfer life to other planets within Gliese system.
Laci Brock, a student studying interdisciplinary physics and planetary science, examined the Gliese 581 planetary system because super-Earth falls in a "habitable zone" where liquid water could possibly exist.
"Laci has found the somewhat surprising result that it is very difficult for materials to spread throughout that system in the same way it could take place in our solar system," Melosh said.
All four planets found in Gliese 581 are within close proximity to their central star, which results in large orbital velocities, Brock said. However, the initial velocity of material leaving Planet d is not enough to allow exchanges among planets.
"Planet d would have a very small chance of transferring material to the other planets in the Gliese system and, thus, is far more isolated, biologically, than the inner planets of our own solar system. It really shows us how unique our solar system is," Brock stated.
Melosh said a more extended solar system would be needed for exchange of materials among planets.
"None of the solar systems that have been found so far would have opportunities for exchange of life among the different planets like what our own solar system offers," he added.
The Opik-Arnold method was used to simulate 10,000 particles being ejected from Planet e and super-Earth. The velocity ranges of the particles were scaled from each of the planet’s orbital velocities, which is very high by solar system standards due to the close proximity to their central star.
"Ejections from Planet d have a low probability of impact on any other planet than itself, and most ejected particles would enter an initial hyperbolic orbit and be ejected from the planetary system," Brock said.
Laci Brock and Melosh presented their findings at the 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas.