Earth barely big enough for life?

Posted on Sunday, January 27 2008 @ 11:39 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Scientists claim our planet may only be barely big enough to support life and that astronomers searching for habitable worlds might do best to look for rocky planets several times larger than Earth:
That's because, according to a new study, our planet is at the lower end of the size range needed for plate tectonics—which scientists believe are vital for stabilizing temperatures enough for life.

Tectonics—the continent-shifting forces that build mountains and fuel volcanoes—recycle Earth's crust by drawing it underground, where it melts and later re-emerges as magma, pointed out Diana Valencia of Harvard University.

That helps keep carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere more or less stable, as excess gas is removed from the atmosphere by reacting with fresh rocks in a process called "weathering."

The carbon dioxide is later returned to the atmosphere via volcanic gases.

"Plate tectonics is important for the carbon cycle to operate," Valencia said. "Carbon cycling is the Earth's climate thermostat. Over time, it's kept the Earth's temperature around [that of] liquid water, allowing life to emerge."

Valencia, who presented her study yesterday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin, Texas, and her team looked at factors that determine whether rocky planets experience tectonics.

Rocky worlds significantly larger than Earth—commonly known as "super-Earths"—are more likely to have plate tectonics, the researchers concluded.
More info at National Geographic.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



Loading Comments