 |
Free-floating planets in the Milky Way outnumber stars by factors of thousands
May 11, 2012A few hundred thousand billion free-floating life-bearing Earth-sized planets may exist in the space between stars in the Milky Way. So argues an international team of scientists led by Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology at the University of Buckingham, UK. Their findings are published online in the Springer journal Astrophysics and Space Science.
The scientists have proposed that these life-bearing planets originated in the early Universe within a few million years of the Big Bang, and that they make up most of the so-called "missing mass" of galaxies. The scientists calculate that such a planetary body would cross the inner solar system every 25 million years on the average and during each transit, zodiacal dust, including a component of the solar system's living cells, becomes implanted at its surface. The free-floating planets would then have the added property of mixing the products of local biological evolution on a galaxy-wide scale.
Since 1995, when the first extrasolar planet was reported, interest in searching for planets has reached a feverish pitch. The 750 or so detections of exoplanets are all of planets orbiting stars, and very few, if any, have been deemed potential candidates for life. The possibility of a much larger number of planets was first suggested in earlier studies where the effects of gravitational lensing of distant quasars by intervening planet-sized bodies were measured. Recently several groups of investigators have suggested that a few billion such objects could exist in the galaxy.
Wickramasinghe and team have increased this grand total of planets to a few hundred thousand billion (a few thousand for every Milky Way star) - each one harbouring the legacy of cosmic primordial life.
Reference:
Wickramasinghe NC et al (2012). Life-bearing primordial planets in the solar vicinity. Astrophysics and Space Science; DOI 10.1007/s10509-012-1092-8
Springer
Related Milky Way Current Events and Milky Way News Articles
An anarchic region of star formation
NGC 6559 is a cloud of gas and dust located at a distance of about 5000 light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). The glowing region is a relatively small object, just a few light-years across, in contrast to the one hundred light-years and more spanned by its famous neighbour, the Lagoon Nebula.
Rare galaxy found furiously burning fuel for stars
Astronomers have found a galaxy turning gas into stars with almost 100 percent efficiency, a rare phase of galaxy evolution that is the most extreme yet observed.
Astronomers Discover Massive Star Factory in Early Universe
Smaller begets bigger. Such is often the case for galaxies, at least: the first galaxies were small, then eventually merged together to form the behemoths we see in the present universe.
ALMA pinpoints early galaxies at record speed
The most fertile bursts of star birth in the early Universe took place in distant galaxies containing lots of cosmic dust.
ALMA Finds 'Monster' Starburst Galaxies in the Early Universe
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope have discovered starburst galaxies earlier in the Universe's history than they were previously thought to have existed.
Puzzle of how spiral galaxies set their arms comes into focus
As the shapes of galaxies go, the spiral disk - with its characteristic pinwheel profile - is by far the most pedestrian.
'Sideline quasars' helped to stifle early galaxy formation, says CU-Boulder study
University of Colorado Boulder astronomers targeting one of the brightest quasars glowing in the universe some 11 billion years ago say "sideline quasars" likely teamed up with it to heat abundant helium gas billions of years ago, preventing small galaxy formation.
Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space, sudden changes in cosmic rays indicate
Thirty-five years after its launch, Voyager 1 appears to have travelled beyond the influence of the Sun and exited the heliosphere, according to a new study appearing online today.
Witnessing starbursts in young galaxies
On March 13, it was announced the most vigorous bursts of star birth in the cosmos took place much earlier than previously thought - results now published in a set of papers in Nature and the Astrophysical Journal.
ALMA finds 'monster' starburst galaxies in the early universe
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope have discovered starburst galaxies earlier in the Universe's history than they were previously thought to have existed.
More Milky Way Current Events and Milky Way News Articles
 |
The Milky Way: An Insider's Guide by William H. Waller (Author) This book offers an intimate guide to the Milky Way, taking readers on a grand tour of our home Galaxy's structure, genesis, and evolution, based on the latest astronomical findings. In engaging language, it tells how the Milky Way congealed from blobs of gas and dark matter into a spinning starry abode brimming with diverse planetary systems--some of which may be hosting myriad life forms and perhaps even other technologically communicative species. William Waller vividly describes the Milky Way as it appears in the night sky, acquainting readers with its key components and telling the history of our changing galactic perceptions. The ancients believed the Milky Way was a home for the gods. Today we know it is but one galaxy among billions of others in the observable universe. Within the... |
 |
Milky Way Galaxy! Learn About Milky Way Galaxy and Enjoy Colorful Pictures - Look and Learn! (50+ Photos of Milky Way Galaxy) Are your kids interested in Milky Way Galaxy? Awesome! You have found the right book. Help your children learn more about Milky Way Galaxy today by reading this book. Here is what is included inside "Milky Way Galaxy! Learn About Milky Way Galaxy and Enjoy Colorful Pictures – Look and Learn!"... Milky Way Galaxy Space Solar Systems Milky Way Galaxy Images Milky Way Galaxy Facts Milky Way Galaxy Neighbors Milky Way Galaxy Structures Planets Nebulas Fun Milky Way Galaxy Facts And Lots More! Includes over 50 high quality photos of Milky Way Galaxy! Other bonuses inside "Milky Way Galaxy! Learn About Milky Way Galaxy and Enjoy Colorful Pictures – Look and Learn!"... This book has photos... |
 |
Coming of Age in the Milky Way by Timothy Ferris (Author) From the second-century celestial models of Ptolemy to modern-day research institutes and quantum theory, this classic book offers a breathtaking tour of astronomy and the brilliant, eccentric personalities who have shaped it. From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history. |
 |
Through the Milky Way on a PB&J by James McDonald (Author), James McDonald (Illustrator) Across the solar system and on to the Milky Way! School's out for the summer and Sami and Thomas have big plans. They've built a spaceship in their tree house and are going to blast off for a tour of the solar system, but one of the planets holds a special surprise. Vibrant images and flowing verse bring this imaginative story to life. Space lovers and adventurers of all ages are sure to love this cosmic journey. |
 |
The Milky Way Wall Map (tubed) (Reference - Space) by National Geographic Maps (Author) This computer-generated image of the Milky Way shows the entire galaxy in one perspective of a 3-D model compiled specially for National Geographic. The model incorporates the positions of hundreds of thousands of stars and nebulae within the galaxy, shows Earthâ TMs location, and includes additional photographs, descriptions and locations of fascinating phenomena throughout the Milky Way. 20 x 31 inches (approx). |
 |
Milky Way Railroad (Stone Bridge Fiction) by Kenji Miyazawa (Author), Ryu Okazaki (Illustrator), Joseph Sigrist (Illustrator), D.M. Stroud (Illustrator) One night, alone on a hilltop, a young boy is swept aboard a magical train bound for the Milky Way. A classic in Japan, this tender fable is a book of great wisdom, offering insight into the afterlife.One of Japan’s greatest storytellers, Kenji Miyazawa (1896–1933) was a teacher, author, poet, and scientist. |
|
Houghton Mifflin The Nation's Choice: Theme Paperbacks Easy Level Theme 3 Grade 4 The Story of the Milky Way by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN (Author) The legend of the Milky Way tells of an elderly couple who lived long ago. One day they discovered that a giant spirit dog had stolen some of their cornmeal--and drove the dog from the village into the night sky. The band of stars that formed in its wake is the Milky Way. Exquisite paintings illuminate a lyrical text by two renowned Native American storytellers. | |
 |
Tyler : Milky Way by Muriel Jensen (Author) Milky Way: Welcome to Tyler, by Jensen, Muriel |
 |
Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls: What Planet Are You From? by Lauren Faust (Author), Lauren Faust (Illustrator) Meet Milky Way and her intergalactic entourage, the Galaxy Girls! Each girl is named after some heavenly body, and none are afraid to be as individual as every star in the sky. With 11 girls in this celestial sorority, there's bound to be one you can bond with. You may be a total hottie, sizzlin' with solar power like the Sun. Or, like Pluto, a rockin' rebel who rejects demeaning lables like "Dwarf Planet." Perhaps you're an orbital oddball, like artistic, green-skinned Mars. Or a kind-hearted environmentalist with a soft spot for cute animals, like Jupiter. Read on, for this book is your personal guide to the girlaxy, and with a little insight you can find out... WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? |
 |
Milky Way and Other Galaxies (Fact Finders: The Solar System and Beyond) by Megan Kopp (Author) They're huge collections of gas, dust, and stars. And our solar system calls one of them home. Get up close to the galaxies that spin around the universe. |
| © 2013 BrightSurf.com |