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| An artist's impression of earth vs k2-18b - from here |
Is there a planet out there somewhere with life on it?
Our scientists have done pretty much research already and more is going on. As
far as I know, the nearest planet that has the potential to sustain life is an exoplanet
that our scientists have named K2-18b. It is a Hycean planet, which
means there is possibly hydrogen and water-ocean on it. [Hycean is portmanteau
of hydrogen and ocean.] Exoplanet means that it doesn’t belong to our Solar
System though it is in the habitable zone, though it is 120 light-years away
from our earth.
K2-18 is the sun of K2-18b. [I guess
that’s quite a convenient way of naming things in science. Naming them Petre
and Paul, for example, would have been as inconvenient as it is irrational.] K2-18
is dwarf star; that is, a relatively small star of low luminosity. “A cool
star!” our new gen would say. However, the planet's size can be quite intimidating: 8.6
times as big as the earth.
NASA’s James Webb Telescope suggests the
presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide on K2-18b.
This planet has the potential to possess hydrogen-rich atmosphere and water
ocean-covered surface.
Whenever I hear about the possibility
of life on another planet, my first thought is whether there will be as many
gods and demons there too as our own planet has. A friend of mine accuses me of
perversity because of this thought though I don’t know why thoughts about gods
should be perverse in any way. Will the creatures on those planets be fighting
with each other in the names of those gods too as we do here? Or will they be
more intelligent? Really spiritual?
A few years ago, I read a novel about
life on another planet where a Christian pastor from the earth reaches to sate
the spiritual thirst of the creatures there: The
Book of Strange New Things. Spirituality can be painful even on
another planet!
I’m waiting for James Webb and other
technology to teach me more – both about other planets and the divine beings
there.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteWhere there is life there will be that eternal struggle called survival. Where that exists it follows there will be competition for resources. This builds to conflict and all living things face it. If they dey develop self awareness, then the curiosity of why will drive enquiry...and development of theories such as "an originator" from which all arose... YAM xx
That's a very rational explanation. Thanks, Yam.
DeleteTo me, life on another planet is still a fantasy ... If there has to be one, it will have to be a form of life that is different from what we have here. So, everything else will also be different ...
ReplyDeleteYes, I too believe that life on another planet will be quite different. I am pretty sure they will be more sensible than us :)
DeleteThese scientists should have consulted with Elon Musk before naming the planet. Elon named 3 of his kids - X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus. HeHeHe
ReplyDeleteMusk, Muket, Musketeer 🤣
DeleteThey have found a fossil of a non-human-like creature in Mexico.
ReplyDeleteLooks like aliens have been visiting Planet Earth from the past hundreds of years...
The way science is advancing, we will know about the system in their planets in a couple of years!
They are there, I'm sure, intelligent beings...
DeleteMore minds to conquer!
ReplyDeleteIndeed
DeleteIt would be a shame if we are alone in this universe, imagine we being just alone.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we'll find many similarities between our gods and thier gods!
ReplyDeleteWhy worry about life on other planets,we can't even live harmoniously on our own.
ReplyDeleteSo true 😊
Delete