New Study Shows Solar System Is Uncommon

Iddo Genuth writes "Research conducted by a team of North American scientists shows our solar system is special, contrary to the accepted theory that it is an average planetary system. Using computer simulations to follow the development of planets, it was shown that very specific conditions are needed for a proto-stellar disk to evolve into a solar system-like planetary system. The simulations show that in most cases either no planets are created, or planets are formed and then migrate towards the disk center and acquire highly elliptical orbits." The research was published in Science magazine; here's the paper on ArXiv (PDF).

Comments

Great!

[vigmeister]

Ever since mothers were allowed into academia, all their research has been telling us is that we are SPECIAL.

Cheers!

Re:Great!

[I cant believe its n]

If this "shows' anything, it seems more probable that this 'shows' that the simulations aren't complete enough yet.

Of course. They did not even mention Great A'Tuin, so how could their model be complete?

Re:What is rare?

[RuBLed]

Maybe our solar system is a pre-BC (Before Creation) universe drop; nobody is farming those anymore...

if our solar system is uncommon...

[Brain Damaged Bogan]

... then what chances do we have of finding a solar system populated entirely by hot large-perky-breasted nymphomaniac supermodels that love nerds?

Re:if our solar system is uncommon...

[freedom_india]

Lets say... zero.
If you cam't find a girl on Earth, what are your chances against alien supermen? particularly someone who is built like Gort?
In a bar fight, you can only win at ASDF keyboard battles.

If you think thats rare..

[Layth]

Just what are the odds that every alien encounter will be with bipeds that have vocal communication!

Re:If you think thats rare..

[4D6963]

Very thin. Most aliens species communicate by genital contact. You heard me! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR TO GIVE ALL YOUR MONEY TO SETI?!?

Re:What is rare?

[Anonymous Coward]

pre-before-creation? As opposed to pre-after-creation or pre-during-creation?

Let's define "common"

[Spit]

Modelling has indicated that the solar-system isn't as common as previously thought. Scientists estimate that only 2^2340987890 similar solar systems exist in the local group.

Re:Have you every programmed a gravity sim?

[0xdeadbeef]

Did you now that the Earth does in fact have an elliptical orbit, and that in January it is actually three million miles closer than it is in July?

Did you also know that the primary reason there is solid carbon dioxide on Mars is the density of the atmosphere, and not the distance to the sun?

Did you also know that if your mommy was any uglier, or your daddy wasn't drunk, you wouldn't exist? It's true! The existence of life is contingent on many factors.

And besides, Charley's in the trees, man, he's in the freakin' trees!

Re:What is rare?

[xonar]

Whoosh!

Re:What is rare?

[Awptimus Prime]

This is assuming the "E.T." is made of meat, like us, which I feel is a common mistake we make when thinking of what could exist elsewhere.

I blame Star Trek.

Re:Under which model?

[rasman1978]

You were an apprentice under A. Prentice?

They may be uncommon...

[fireheadca]

...but slashdot articles about it aren't.

Re:Climate Science

[sleeponthemic]

climatologists will need to be right more than 50% of the time if they want me to believe them. Heck just this past weekend the only thing they predicted correctly was the daily highs and lows.

And you'll need to stop confusing climatologists with meteorologists.

What does a meteor have to do with this weekends weather?

Leave science to the scientologists I say..

(They're the authentically named 'ologists for the job).

political correctness, please!

[paniq]

our solar system isn't special, it's orbitally challenged.