10 Unsettling Solar System Possibilities | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The content explores ten unsettling possibilities in the solar system, including the ejection of planets, dramatic changes in planetary conditions, undiscovered planets, the sun's future impact on Earth, solar eclipses, the constant threat of objects from the rest of the galaxy, the potential disruption of civilization by coronal mass ejections, undiscovered star systems nearby, Venus' odd clouds and the possibility of extreme life, and the theory that life originated on an asteroid.

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🔬 The solar system's history is filled with mysteries and odd possibilities that continue to intrigue and unsettle scientists.
• 🖤 The ejection of planets in the early stages of the solar system may explain why it lacks super earths.
• ⌛ The changes in Earth, Mars, and Venus over time demonstrate how planets can go horribly wrong or evolve dramatically.
• 🪐 The outer solar system presents mysteries such as the potential existence of undiscovered planets, including a large ninth planet and possibly a tenth planet.
• 💗 Sun-related phenomena like its growing brightness and coronal mass ejections pose threats to civilization and life on Earth.
• ❓ The phenomenon of total solar eclipses is a unique and unsettling occurrence, with Earth potentially becoming a tourist destination for extraterrestrial observers.
• 🌍 Earth is constantly bombarded by objects from within and outside the solar system, including comets, asteroids, and potentially organisms.
• ❓ The possibility of undiscovered star systems and red dwarfs in the solar neighborhood raises questions about the extent of our knowledge.
• 🛟 Venus' atmosphere holds intriguing possibilities for extreme life and may provide insights into the origins of life on Earth.

Transcript

While decades of solar system exploration has answered many of humanity’s questions about the nature and formation of this star system, with in depth study comes even more mysteries and odd possibilities. Some of them are intriguing and strange, and some of them are outright unsettling. So here are ten of the most unsetling Solar System possibiliti... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What are super earths, and why is their absence in the solar system noteworthy?

Super earths are planets that are more massive than Earth but not as big as Uranus or Neptune. Their absence in the solar system is noteworthy because they are common in other star systems, suggesting that our solar system may have ejected its own super earth at some point in its history.

Q: How do coronal mass ejections from the sun pose a threat to civilization?

Coronal mass ejections can cause disruptions to technology on Earth, as seen in the 1859 solar storm that affected the telegraph system. If a similar event were to occur today, it could cause widespread damage to our modern technology, resulting in significant economic losses.

Q: What is the habitable zone in Venus' atmosphere, and why is it interesting?

Venus' habitable zone refers to an area within its upper atmosphere that has cooler temperatures and pressures similar to Earth. It is interesting because, despite Venus' harsh surface conditions, this zone could potentially support microbial life that has adapted to the acidic environment and increased ultraviolet radiation.

Q: What is panspermia and how does it relate to the theory of life originating on Ceres?

Panspermia is the idea that life could have originated on one celestial body and been transported to another. The theory suggests that Ceres, with its potential subsurface liquid ocean and suitable conditions, could have been the source of life on Earth through impacts that ejected microbes or organic material.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The solar system may have ejected planets in its early history, explaining the absence of super earths. Additionally, the fate of Earth, Venus, and possibly Mercury somewhat remain uncertain.

• Planets like Earth, Mars, and Venus have undergone dramatic changes over time due to factors like a runaway greenhouse effect and atmospheric evolution.

• There is a possibility of undiscovered planets in the outer solar system, including a large ninth planet and potentially a tenth planet. The existence of these planets could explain the absence of super earths.

• Over time, the sun will grow brighter and disrupt life on Earth, eventually leading to the extinction of all life.

• Total solar eclipses are a rare phenomenon due to the precise size of the moon compared to the sun, and Earth may become a tourist destination for extraterrestrial eclipse viewers in the future.

• The solar system is not isolated, and Earth is constantly bombarded by comets and asteroids from both within and outside the solar system. There is a possibility that the solar system has been visited by intelligent extraterrestrial life.

• Coronal mass ejections from the sun pose a short-term threat to civilization, as demonstrated by the potential for widespread damage to technology.

• There could be undiscovered star systems within 20 light years of Earth, particularly red dwarfs that emit most of their radiation in the infrared spectrum.

• Venus' upper atmosphere holds a habitable zone, raising the possibility of extreme life that has adapted to survive in this environment.

• It is speculated that life on Earth may have originated on the asteroid Ceres through panspermia, as it potentially possesses the right conditions and avoided the heavy bombardment that Earth experienced.