Skip to content

SciTech

New way to assess chance of 'life' on other planets

by Adrian Bishop 23 Nov 2011
New way to assess chance of 'life' on other planets

Planets in space via Shutterstock

There is a greater chance of finding life on other planets by adopting a new system of searching, scientists claim. There are only two questions that matter, says an international working group of scientists who are examining the chances of finding life on other planets.

Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, from the Washington State University School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, says, "The first question is whether Earth-like conditions can be found on other worlds, since we know empirically that those conditions could harbour life.

"The second question is whether conditions exist on exoplanets that suggest the possibility of other forms of life, whether known to us or not."

Dirk Schulze-Makuch and nine members of the working group from NASA, the German Aerospace Centre SETI, and four universities, propose a different way of classifying exoplanets - planets outside our solar system. They propose a new an Earth Similarity Index (ESI) to list exoplanetary features that are similar to those on earth and a Planetary Habitability Index (PHI) that categorises physical and chemical attributes that, in theory, aid different forms of life in conditions that are not so earth-like.

The ESI is an effective and fast way of identifying patterns in complicated sets of data that can be applied to mathematics, chemistry, imaging and more. This is the first time that scientists have tried to categorise the conditions and chances for life on the many thousands of exoplanets that are set to be discovered in the next few years.

Dirk Schulze-Makuch says, "As a practical matter, interest in exoplanets is going to focus initially on the search for terrestrial, Earth-like planets. With that in mind, we propose an Earth Similarity Index which provides a quick screening tool with which to detect exoplanets most similar to Earth."

As well as concentrating on similarities to earth, the changes of habitability for various life forms are also important. The group says, "Habitability in a wider sense is not necessarily restricted to water as a solvent or to a planet circling a star.

"For example, the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan could host a different form of life. Analog studies in hydrocarbon environments on Earth, in fact, clearly indicate that these environments are habitable in principle. Orphan planets wandering free of any central star could likewise conceivably feature conditions suitable for some form of life."

The researchers admit that trying to calculate the chances of any life form existing anywhere is speculative, but not doing so could mean that worlds potentially harbouring life could be missed. They explain, "Our proposed PHI is informed by chemical and physical parameters that are conducive to life in general. It relies on factors that, in principle, could be detected at the distance of exoplanets from Earth, given currently planned future space instrumentation."

The paper is called A Two-Tiered Approach to Assessing the Habitability of Exoplanets. Its authors were Marina Resendes de Sousa Antonia, Carol Turse, Grayson Boyer and Dirk Schulze-Makuch, from Washington State University; Alfonso Davila, from SETI; Alberto Fairen, from NASA; Abel Mendez, from University of Puerto Rico at Aricebo; Philip von Paris, from the German Aerospace Centre; David Catling, from the University of Washington and Louis N. Irwin, from the University of Texas-El Paso.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping