Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Earth-Sized Planets Are Just Right For Life

Auroras, like this one seen from Alaska, may be a sign that a planet can support life (Image: Joshua Strang, United States Air Force / Wikimedia Commons)

From New Scientist:

THE discovery of extrasolar super-Earths - rocky planets about five to ten times the mass of Earth - has raised hopes that some may harbour life. Perhaps it's a vain hope though, since it now seems that Earth is just the right size to sustain life.

Life is comfortable on Earth in part because of its relatively stable climate and its magnetic field, which deflects cosmic radiation capable of damaging organic molecules as well as producing amazing auroras (see right).

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