Planets with substantial amounts of Aluminium-26 dry out their building blocks before accretion (left). Planets formed in low-mass star-forming regions accrete many water-rich bodies and emerge as ocean worlds (right). Credit: Thibaut Roger.
Earth's solid surface and clement climate may be in part due to a massive star in the birth environment of the Sun. Without its radioactive elements injected into the early solar system, our home planet could be a hostile ocean world covered in global ice sheets. This is demonstrated by computer simulations in which the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS, based at the University of Bern, was involved. Water covers more than two thirds of the surface of the Earth, but in astronomical terms the inner terrestrial planets of our solar system appear very dry - fortunately, because too much of a good thing can do more harm than good. If the water content of a rocky planet is significantly greater than on Earth, the silicate mantle is covered by a deep, global ocean and an impenetrable layer of ice on the ocean floor. This prevents geochemical processes, such as the carbon cycle on Earth, which stabilize the climate and create surface conditions conducive to life as we know it. "So, it seems we were just extraordinarily lucky.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
