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No Moon Needed For Extraterrestrial Life

Posted by Soulskill on from the sheer-luna-cy dept.

sciencehabit writes "Given the generally accepted idea of how Earth got its big moon — through a dramatic collision with a Mars-sized body that knocked a huge chunk of Earth loose — astronomers estimate that only 1% of all Earth-like planets in the universe might actually have such a hefty companion. That would mean planets harboring complex life might be relatively rare. But researchers have now carried out large numbers of detailed numerical simulations of 'moon-less Earths,' which show that the consequences are less dire than is generally assumed. According to the simulations, these planets would have ample time for advanced land life to evolve. As a result, the number of Earth-like extrasolar planets suitable for harboring advanced life could be 10 times higher than has been assumed until now."

2 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Please explain by truthsearch · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why was there ever an assumption that a moon is required for complex life? Stabilization of the axis and climate regions? Or did we just assume it because it worked here?

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    1. Re:Please explain by VortexCortex · · Score: 3, Interesting

      And, I think that the tides provided by a moon would keep things moving around instead of stagnating.

      Not to mention the tidal forces make the Earth's surface flex about 1ft (as evidenced by my GPS) per day. All that flexing keeps the insides hot as well as triggers earthquakes that would otherwise be more devastating, and helps lava flow so that smaller, more frequent volcanic outbursts occur instead of less frequent super volcanic activities that would extinct us all.

      Conversely, why the hell we think only land life would be sentient and capable of technology is beyond me -- Seems that artificial water filled environments might be easier to maintain in space too (holds heat better, freezes at the edges for insulation, shields against certain UV wavelengths... There's a reason life happened in the watter first, making it to land doesn't seem all that important to me. Dolphins may actually be close to sentience -- they returned to the water because land life was harsh.