Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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notFritzArgelander
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Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by notFritzArgelander »


https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-sun- ... 2_cENoXops

Once again it looks like life on Earth requires an unlikely confluence of environmental factors.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by ThinkerX »


not mentioned in the article is Mars, which quite possibly had liquid water on its surface during the 'faint sun' period.
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Re: Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by notFritzArgelander »


ThinkerX wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 3:10 am not mentioned in the article is Mars, which quite possibly had liquid water on its surface during the 'faint sun' period.
au contraire! Mars is indeed mentioned:
Mars presents a trickier conundrum. According to new data from NASA’s Perseverance rover, Mars appears to have had rivers and lakes on its surface at least 3.7 billion years ago. It’s unclear how that would have been possible at its greater distance from the sun.

“On Mars the puzzle is enhanced,” said Kirsten Siebach, a planetary scientist at Rice University and a member of the science team for multiple robotic Mars missions, including Perseverance. “Ancient Mars would have required twice the greenhouse effect we have on Earth today.” Samples being collected by Perseverance, to be returned to Earth in the 2030s, could tell us if this was possible.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by ThinkerX »


Drat. Missed that. However, it does point to a significant flaw or issue with the 'faint sun' theory as it pertains to earth-like worlds.

Also, I'd point out that the fainter G and pretty much all K main sequence stars have substantial lifespans. Hence, a planet in a position comparable to Earths in such a system could very well be a frozen ice ball for a few billion years, then thaw out as the star heated up. It would just delay the whole 'opportunity for life' thing by a few billion years. It would also give the planetary systems in question the opportunity to stabilize, much as that is possible.
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Re: Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by notFritzArgelander »


ThinkerX wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 7:26 am Drat. Missed that. However, it does point to a significant flaw or issue with the 'faint sun' theory as it pertains to earth-like worlds.

Also, I'd point out that the fainter G and pretty much all K main sequence stars have substantial lifespans. Hence, a planet in a position comparable to Earths in such a system could very well be a frozen ice ball for a few billion years, then thaw out as the star heated up. It would just delay the whole 'opportunity for life' thing by a few billion years. It would also give the planetary systems in question the opportunity to stabilize, much as that is possible.
Pretty much agreed. The only caveat is that since we don't know how life emerges, we can't be sure the opportunity would survive that long. Chemistry shortly after formation (availability of ingredients) might be both necessary and quite different than later.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Quanta: A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life

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Post by WilliamPaolini »


notFritzArgelander wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 8:08 am Pretty much agreed. The only caveat is that since we don't know how life emerges, we can't be sure the opportunity would survive that long. Chemistry shortly after formation (availability of ingredients) might be both necessary and quite different than later.
That is the pickle with the many conjectures that come out in the press. Since we do not know the ingredients/conditions needed for abiogenesis, no idea what to really search for or what planets might be good candidates. Kind of impossible to narrow a search for something when you have no idea about that to look for. Even water IMO is still just an assumption about the initial stage of the process. I mean who knows, maybe water is not needed initially and use of water-based environment was a later adaptation.
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