The Prospects for Habitable Worlds
The Prospects for Habitable Worlds
This chapter focuses on the prevalence of habitable worlds where life might begin its evolutionary journey. Research in the last two decades suggests that planets around stars other than the sun may be a common occurrence. Data from the most recent space telescopes indicate that even Earth-size planets in the habitable zone around their star may be numerous in the universe. Most astronomers now believe that planet formation is a regular part of star formation. Stars and planets develop together from massive clouds of dust and gas that float through interstellar space. Planets may not be in the nearly circular orbits often found in the solar system. This chapter first considers the role of star size in the origin of life before discussing the possibility that life exists in red dwarfs, moons and failed stars, and multiple-star systems. It then looks at galactic habitable zones, the metallicity of planet-bearing stars, and the chances of a rocky Earth-like planet where complex life could evolve. The chapter concludes by describing indicators of life on other planets.
Keywords: habitable worlds, evolution, interstellar space, solar system, red dwarfs, moons, habitable zones, metallicity, planet-bearing stars, origin of life
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