Soon, We’ll Know if There’s Life on TRAPPIST-1’s Exoplanets – Futurism

An Astounding Discovery

In February, scientists from theEuropean Southern Observatory and NASAannounced the discovery of a new solar system TRAPPIST-1. It has seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a dwarf star, three of which are in the stars habitable zone.

Although TRAPPIST-1 is 40 light-years away, itsremarkable similarities to our own solar system make thediscovery very exciting to scientists. Of allthe solar systems we know of, weve never found one withseven planets let alone multiple Earth-sized planets. TRAPPIST-1sthree habitable planets have density measurements that make them appear to beEarth-like worlds.

Given what TRAPPIST-1s current configuration looks like, the planets located in the habitable zone or goldilocks zonecouldhave water at least theoretically. However, since itssolar systemssun is smaller than ours, theplanets would require a tighter orbitin order to support surface water.

Armed withinsights weve gathered about ourown solar system in recent decades, we have the knowledge and resources to study TRAPPIST-1 and possibly find life beyond our own planet.

Scientists also believe that some of the planets in TRAPPIST-1 are tidally locked to their star. That meansone side of the planet constantly faces their sun, bathing it inperpetual daylight, while the other side is always in the dark. While that doesnt sound much like the life we know on our planet, experts believe it wouldntcompletely negate the possibility of life: what reallymatters is the atmosphere.

We wont have to wait too long to gain further insight into kind of atmosphere these planets have: once the James Webb Space Telescope launches in October of next year, scientists will be able to study the planetsmore in-depth. Our knowledge of how tidally locked planets in our own solar system manage such extreme temperatures based on what weve already learned from Neptune and Jupiter will alsolend itself to a better understanding of how the TRAPPIST-1 planets work.

Granted, everything that we know about life stems from our understanding of life on Earthwhere we experience both day and night. Its wholly possibly that in planets where a diurnal cycle isnt the norm, lifedevelops very differently.

But as Dr. Jessie Christiansen, an astronomer at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of Technology, notes while speaking to theChristian Science Monitor, we could liken this to conditions some creatures on our planet know well: the life aquatic. If you think about life in the deep ocean, Dr. Christiansen says, it has evolved without a true diurnal cycle.

Here on our own planet, we are still constantly surprised by life discovered in sea floors, icy climates, deep caves, and other extreme settings. So, that being said,the idea that life could exist in TRAPPIST-1 shouldnt be too hard to fathom.