麻豆影视

Skip to main content

Astronomers find ring-shaped border on some distant planet may support life

Share

A ring-shaped border on certain distant planets known as the "terminator zone" that separates permanent daytime and nighttime could offer conditions suitable to support life, a recent study has found.

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) published a study on March 16 in that says life could potentially exist within a special "in-between" region on exoplanets where one side always faces its star and the other is always dark 鈥 creating permanent day and night.

This dividing line between the day and night sides could create conditions where the temperature is not too hot or too cold, the researchers say.

They call this type of hospitable environment "terminator habitability."

"You want a planet that's in the sweet spot of just the right temperature for having liquid water," Ana Lobo, a postdoctoral researcher in the UCI Department of Physics and Astronomy who led the study, .

The researchers say this may be the first example of how these types of planets could sustain habitable climates within this terminator region.

Lobo said these types of planets are common and exist around so-called M-dwarf stars, which are relatively dimmer than the Earth's sun and make up about 70 per cent of the stars seen at night.

The researchers used software normally meant to model Earth's climate to model the climate of terminator planets.

They say planets with more land could harbour terminator regions more easily than those mostly covered in water, given the water facing the star would likely evaporate and cover the planet in thick vapour.

"These new and exotic habitability states our team is uncovering are no longer the stuff of science fiction," Aomawa Shields, UCI associate professor of physics and astronomy, said. "Ana has done the work to show that such states can be climatically stable."

While the study of planets for their potential habitability has mostly focused on those covered by oceans, the researchers say this study could expand the number of viable candidates and potentially help teams using telescopes such as James Webb search for life-supporting planets.

"We are trying to draw attention to more water-limited planets, which despite not having widespread oceans, could have lakes or other smaller bodies of liquid water, and these climates could actually be very promising," Lobo said.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.