The Search For Earth 2.0
Australian researchers are playing a vital role in the ongoing discovery of exoplanets as they search for habitable worlds beyond our own, a potential Earth 2.0.
The quest to find Earth 2.0 is well underway as an international collaboration of scientists plumb the depths of endless galaxies in hopes of finding another habitable planet resembling Earth. As technology advances, so too is research into exoplanets – planets that exist beyond our solar system. The discovery of these celestial bodies continues to challenge what we know about the Universe.
Dr Jessie Christiansen is an Australian astrophysicist and Chief Scientist of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltech. Her work and research have contributed greatly to a revolution in our understanding of how planets form and evolve. In a recent webinar hosted by her alma mater Griffith University, Dr Christiansen revealed the incredible discoveries that have been made in the expanding field of exoplanet research.
From fiery lava worlds and twin star systems to planets where it’s raining liquid glass sideways all the time, exoplanets exist in the thousands throughout the galaxy and beyond.
Nestled in the hypnotic swirl of the Milky Way galaxy lies our humble Solar System, one of many, revolving around a star we call the Sun. Within this Solar System there are eight planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and one dwarf planet Pluto, each with their own moons, all orbiting in a cosmic ballet that has been an endless source of wonder for mankind.
Our planet Earth resides in what’s known as the Goldilocks zone – the region around a star that provides the perfect temperature for the production of surface water, which is crucial for life to survive. Thus far, Earth is the only planet in the Solar System capable of sustaining the atmospheric conditions conducive to human survival.
Dr Christiansen explained how researchers search for exoplanets using the transit method, which entails observing almost imperceivable dips in a viable star’s brightness as planets cross in front of it as part of their orbit. By collecting this data, researchers can determine potential size of the planet, orbital period and its atmosphere. Since 1995, more than 5000 exoplanets have been uncovered, lurking in the unchartered wilds of the Universe, orbiting what is estimated to be 10 billion sun-like stars.
Much of the information gathered about exoplanets has been obtained by NASA’s Kepler Satellite, which was launched in 2009. Kepler was designed to explore previously unchartered sectors of the Milky Way in search of exoplanets that may provide the crucial conditions to sustain life. Throughout its nine-year mission, Kepler revealed hidden worlds previously unknown and proved the potential for extended investigation.
Though Dr Christiansen reported the search for Earth 2.0 is so far unsuccessful, the research has promise for finding sustainable worlds outside of our own. Nevertheless, work continues for Dr Christiansen and her devoted team as they focus on the future potential of their research thus far. The closest equivalent to Earth is a planet dubbed Kepler 452-B. Often referred to as Earth’s cousin, Kepler 452-B orbits around its star Kepler 452 in the Cygnus constellation, some 1400 light years away from Earth. It is estimated to be at least 1.5 times the size of Earth.
The continued hope for Earth 2.0 lies in the prospects offered by the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a NASA programme boasting a state-of-the-art, large infrared/optical/ultraviolet space telescope. This instrument of interstellar detection will lay the groundwork for NASA’s flagship mission to discover and characterise habitable worlds beyond our Solar System.
Back on the ground though, Earth is not a lost cause. While NASA’s investigations into the unknown cosmos may hold hope for the future of humankind, there are still many problems to solve on Earth before we venture into the stars. The very human problems of war, poverty and environmental collapse are still prescient and need to be resolved before we deign to start a new civilisation on a far-off world.
Rethink your packaging solutions with MADCAP Global Packaging & Geo-Fabrics
