Published February 16, 2024 at 11:03 p.m.
A near-Earth planetary system could harbor life, but there's a problem. Explanations.
TRAPPIST-1
The TRAPPIST-1 planetary system is literally close to Earth. In 1999, this red dwarf was discovered by scientists. Located just 40 light-years away, this system consists of several planets orbiting very close to their star. A few years later, observations confirmed that seven of these were in orbit around TRAPPIST-1, with at least three of them in the habitable zone. Furthermore, these planets would be telluric.
The other planets?
Later, the James Webb Telescope confirmed that the planets closest to TRAPPIST-1 have no atmosphere. However, scientists believed that the more distant specimens could support life. A new study using simulation results shows that none of these seven planets had an atmosphere capable of supporting life. This is explained, among other things, by the fact that red dwarfs are very active stars and cause frequent and very violent outbursts. These events would result in the planets being stripped of their gaseous shell.
red dwarf
Red dwarfs are very numerous in our galaxy. According to scientists, they make up about 70% of the star population. Understanding the TRAPPIST-1 system is important for observing exoplanets that could potentially harbor life as we know it. Some researchers even argue that it is unlikely that stars of this type could provide the necessary conditions for life to develop.
Source: NASA, arXiv