Aspects of an otherwise Earthlike planet鈥檚 tilt and orbital dynamics can severely affect its potential habitability 鈥� even triggering abrupt 鈥渟nowball states鈥� where oceans freeze and surface life is impossible, according to new research from 91探花astronomers.
An atmospheric haze around a faraway planet 鈥� like the one which probably shrouded and cooled the young Earth 鈥� could show that the world is potentially habitable, or even be a sign of life itself.
A nearby exoplanet has an atmosphere that might be similar to Earth’s before life evolved. In an attempt to simulate the structure of this exoplanet’s atmosphere, 91探花researchers became the first to simulate three-dimensional exotic clouds on another world.
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, has a hazy atmosphere and surface rivers, mountains, lakes and sand dunes. But the dunes and prevailing surface winds don’t point in the same direction. New research from 91探花astronomer Benjamin Charnay may have solved this mystery.