Scientists around the world are searching for exoplanets in the universe in an attempt to find life beyond Earth. It was once thought that distant stars with frequent solar flares could mean orbiting planets devoid of life.
A new study has found that intense stellar flare activity may not prevent life on exoplanets. Strong beacon activity can help detect life.
A new study published by Northwestern University researchers found that stellar flares emitted by the parent star of an orbiting planet do not necessarily prevent life from forming.
Solar flares on the Sun can cause problems on Earth with satellites in orbit and interfere with radio communications. In other parts of the universe, stellar flares can also drain and destroy atmospheric gases, such as ozone on orbiting planets.
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If the exoplanet lacks ozone, researchers believe harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation could penetrate the planet’s atmosphere and reduce the chances of life forming.
The new study team found that stellar flares could have an important role in the long-term evolution of the atmosphere and the habitability of an orbiting exoplanet. The researchers compared the atmospheric chemistry of plants that experienced frequent flares with those of planets that did not.
They found the long-term atmospheric chemistry of the two types of worlds was very different. Scientist Daniel Horton, the paper’s senior author, said the team’s finding of star flares may not have hindered the existence of life. He said in some cases, burning did not erode atmospheric ozone, and life could still have a chance.
Solar flares could also be a good thing, previous work determining that space could help detect signatures of important gases that could signal biological processes.
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Stellar flares can increase the abundance of life, exposing gases such as nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, and nitric acid from invisible to detectable levels. Scientists continue to study exoplanets orbiting in the habitable zone of stars M and K in hopes of finding life beyond Earth. arn
(arisn/FBC)
Editor : Good Fit
Author : Aris N
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