Scientists are rethinking where life might exist beyond Earth. A new study reveals that planets once thought too extreme—whether too hot, too cold, or perpetually dark—could actually still harbor liquid water, essential for life.
Traditionally, astronomers focused on a “habitable zone,” a specific area around stars where temperatures allow water to stay liquid. For example, within our solar system, this zone stretches from the Earth’s orbit to Mars. But many newly discovered exoplanets fall outside this typical range.
Some of these planets orbit stars unlike our sun, while others are closer or further away than expected.
Professor Amri Wandel from Hebrew University challenges conventional views in a study published in *The Astrophysical Journal*. He examines tidally locked planets, which always face the same side toward their star, resulting in one side basking in constant sunlight while the other remains in unending darkness. Previously, the dark side was assumed to be frozen solid, making it improbable for any liquid water or life to exist there. However, Wandel’s findings suggest otherwise.
His research shows that heat from the day side can transfer to the night side, potentially keeping some areas warm enough for liquid water to exist. This occurs even on planets orbiting cooler stars, like M- and K-dwarfs, which were previously deemed unsuitable for liquid water due to their proximity to heat.
Wandel states, “Our results show that liquid water can exist on the dark side of tidally locked planets. This expands the environments where life might thrive, far beyond the traditional habitable zone.”
The research also suggests that planets once thought too frigid could have liquid water hidden beneath thick ice layers, raising exciting possibilities for potential life in these new environments. “Planets appearing frozen on the surface could conceal liquid water beneath,” says Wandel, highlighting that these hidden reserves could be valuable habitats to explore.
This groundbreaking study aligns with recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope, which detected water vapor in the atmospheres of warm Super-Earths near M-dwarf stars, challenging our previous assumptions about where liquid water might exist.
Overall, Wandel’s research opens the door to new avenues for the search for extraterrestrial life. The universe may be more hospitable to life than we previously thought, prompting astronomers to focus their efforts on planets that were once dismissed.
As we continue to explore the cosmos, the potential habitats for life might be far more numerous than we ever imagined.
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