Editing 2202: Earth-Like Exoplanet
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by an EXOPLANET SURVIVOR. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | This comic is a reference to the | + | This comic is a reference to the recently discovered [https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49648746 exoplanet K2-18b], on which water vapor has been discovered. {{w|Extraterrestrial liquid water|Water}} is considered a biosignature, meaning it's an indicator that there could be life there. However, as Megan reveals the planet's other characteristics, it becomes clear that it is unlikely to actually support life, and in fact is actually a horrible hellscape. The question of habitability by higher forms of life is profoundly different than the way {{w|astrobiology|astrobiologists}} use the term for microbes. Even a smaller "survivable zone" doesn't help mitigate just how inhospitable this new wet planet would be to any forms of life other than {{w|extremophile}} organisms. |
− | The planet being {{w|Tidal locking|tidally locked}} indicates that the same side would face the planet's star year-round, meaning half of the planet would be in constant day and the other half would be in constant night | + | The planet being {{w|Tidal locking|tidally locked}} indicates that the same side would face the planet's star year-round, meaning half of the planet would be in constant day and the other half would be in constant night. Based on our (admittedly limited) understanding of life, {{w|abiogenesis}} can only occur in environments with liquid water; however, the day hemisphere would likely be so hot that all water found there would be in a gaseous state, and all water found in the night hemisphere would likely be frozen due to the sheer cold. If life were to be found on this exoplanet, it would be in the twilight strip, a thin ring around the edge separating the two hemispheres where sunlight can reach but is refracted by the atmosphere. The environment in the twilight strip would thus experience something akin to an eternal sunset, and temperatures there would be moderate enough to allow life to come about. |
− | Unfortunately, the other characteristics of the exoplanet severely undermine our chances of finding life even in its twilight strip | + | Unfortunately, the other characteristics of the exoplanet severely undermine our chances of finding life even in its twilight strip: |
− | * | + | * [https://www.space.com/massive-stellar-flare-detected-from-distant-star.html Stellar flares] are ejections of energy and plasma from a star, and it's probable that a planet being blasted with these searing hot flares wouldn't readily support life. |
− | * Meteors are chunks of material that enter a planet's atmosphere, and if the planet is "blasted" by them it is likely that many of them are impacting the surface, thus becoming meteorites. As we know from | + | * Meteors are chunks of material that enter a planet's atmosphere, and if the planet is "blasted" by them it is likely that many of them are impacting the surface, thus becoming meteorites. As we know from [https://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Natural_Disasters/impacts.htm the extinction of the dinosaurs], meteorites can have a negative effect on a planet's habitability. |
− | * Strong acids are present in some planetary atmospheres, | + | * Strong acids are present in some planetary atmospheres, [https://imaginecosmos.com/tag/sulfuric-acid/ including sulfuric acid in Venus's], and their hypothetical presence in the exoplanet's atmosphere would make life there even less likely. While life that evolves in a highly acidic environment might be able to withstand it, most life on Earth reacts poorly to strong acids. |
+ | * "Swinging blades" implies the entire surface of the planet is covered in some sort of continuously active blade trap or the like, which would be highly hazardous to the development of complex life. "Biosignatures in the form of screaming" suggests that any life that had developed on the planet would be in continuous pain or fear from the environmental conditions. | ||
− | + | The title text mentions that fire could indicate the presence of oxygen, which is required for life on Earth. Here the joke is continued, since it's unlikely anything could survive on a flaming planet. | |
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− | The title text mentions that fire could indicate the presence of | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Side view of Megan standing behind a lectern, speaking to an | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | :[Side view of Megan standing behind a lectern, speaking to an audience:] | ||
:Megan: We've discovered the most earth-like exoplanet yet! | :Megan: We've discovered the most earth-like exoplanet yet! | ||
− | :Off- | + | :Off-screen (at least two audience members): Yay!! |
− | :[ | + | :[Frontal view of Megan behind lectern:] |
:Megan: Well, it's in the habitable zone. Habitable-ish. "Habitable." | :Megan: Well, it's in the habitable zone. Habitable-ish. "Habitable." | ||
:Megan: The survivable zone. | :Megan: The survivable zone. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Frameless panel showing frontal view of Megan behind lectern with her left hand held out palm-side up:] |
:Megan: It's tidally locked. And blasted with stellar flares. And probably meteors. And bathed in acid. | :Megan: It's tidally locked. And blasted with stellar flares. And probably meteors. And bathed in acid. | ||
− | :[Closeup | + | :[Closeup view of Megan, now holding up a finger on her left hand:] |
:Megan: But we've detected water vapor! In between all the swinging blades. | :Megan: But we've detected water vapor! In between all the swinging blades. | ||
− | :Off- | + | :Off-screen: I see. |
:Megan: We're hoping to find biosignatures in the form of screaming. | :Megan: We're hoping to find biosignatures in the form of screaming. | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | + | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]][[Category:Exoplanets]] |
− | [[Category:Exoplanets | ||
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