Looking for Planet B
Home for human beings is planet Earth: we were formed by conditions here even as we are now affecting the climate. Scientific explorations aside, Dr Anjani Ganase asks us to appreciate why there may be no other planet so perfectly suited to human life. Recently scientists discovered a planet outside our solar system that rained iron owing to extremely hot temperatures that soared to 2400 degrees Celsius. Yet, even within our own solar system, the other planets have extreme weather patterns and atmospheric conditions that are very different from our planet. Considering the environment of Earth - 20 % oxygen and 78 % nitrogen, 24 hour day cycles, mild temperature ranges and a protective atmosphere - will quickly highlight how much we are adapted to our unique environment as well as help us to understand how rare our unique environment is. The resources needed to adapt and the feasibility of living elsewhere at least as comfortably as we live on Eart...