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The search for habitable planets beyond Earth remains a complex and ongoing endeavor, requiring a deep ... - EurekAlert
<p>While rocky planets present their charming and peculiar sides, what excites us the most is whether they are suitable for human habitation. From the in-depth study of Mars and Venus to the continuous exploration of exoplanets, people have always been searching for extraterrestrial environments that support life or at least could potentially do so. So far, apart from Earth, we have not discovered any other undisputedly habitable planets. The habitability of planets is extraordinarily complex, requiring a comprehensive consideration of factors such as solvents, energy, and elements. The interaction between a planet's atmosphere and its internal processes ultimately forms liquid water, while volcanic activity and the thermal evolution of the planetary core shape the atmospheric and surface environments. To fully understand the evolution of planets, we must consider the complexity of numerous feedback mechanisms. <strong>In a review article recently published in Space: Science & Technology, s</strong>cholars from ETH Zurich, in collaboration with KU Leuven and the Royal Observatory of Belgium, have jointly analyzed the complex factors influencing planetary habitability, emphasizing the importance of planetary atmosphere and surface conditions. They have identified three key questions for the ongoing study of habitability on rocky planets within and beyond the solar system. Understanding planetary evolution will help reveal the temporal elements of habitability, providing guidance for future space exploration and advancing research on the existence of life in the universe.</p>
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