Exoplanet atmospheres: Will we find life in space?
Titan and Mars: What do their atmospheres tell us?
The thin line between Earth and space: What atmospheres do
The Earth's atmosphere, a vital, extremely thin veil of gases, protects us from cosmic radiation and forms the basis of our climate. Every day, we breathe and connect with this thin shell, which, if the Earth were an apple, would be no thicker than its skin. Not only the Earth, but also other celestial bodies are surrounded by atmospheres that can potentially support life. Researchers search for traces of extraterrestrial life in such gas shells.
Atmospheres - The key to the search for life in the universe
The atmosphere: protective shield and source of life
The Earth's atmosphere is much more than a simple gas shell. It protects against cosmic radiation, regulates temperatures and provides vital oxygen. But the atmosphere is extremely thin: if you were to shrink the Earth to the size of an apple, it would be as thin as the skin. Their composition has changed over billions of years through processes such as volcanism and the oxygen production of cyanobacteria.
Other atmospheres in the solar system
Other celestial bodies also have atmospheres. Mars lost its gas envelope through the solar wind because it lacks a protective magnetic field. Venus, on the other hand, has a dense, toxic atmosphere of carbon dioxide that turns it into a fiery hell. Saturn's moon Titan stands out for its nitrogen-rich atmosphere, which provides methane lakes and conditions that could resemble early Earth.
The search for extraterrestrial life
The James Webb Space Telescope is currently studying the atmospheres of exoplanets. Biomarkers such as methane and ozone could provide evidence of life. Initial data such as the detection of water vapor on K2-18b make researchers optimistic that life could exist on planets outside our solar system. Atmospheres are the key to answering the big question: Are we alone in the universe?
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