Helium Escaping from Atmosphere of Nearby Rocky Exoplanet in Habitable Zone
Helium escaping from atmosphere of nearby rocky exoplanet in a habitable zone
We detected helium escaping from the atmosphere of a nearby rocky exoplanet located in the habitable zone. This discovery suggests that even Earth-like worlds can lose their atmospheres over time, challenging our understanding of planetary longevity and the potential for life beyond our solar system.
Even a rocky planet in the habitable zone is not guaranteed to keep its atmosphere forever.
- Aardwolf
It would be neat if it were a steampunk-style civilization traveling around their atmosphere in helium airships. But probably just helium escaping from rocks...
- WillAdams
Is it wrong that I was hoping for something along the lines of:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-would-we-know...
except where they are noting how helium is being allowed to escape and not being captured as was previously done by the now shut down U.S. National Helium Reserve.
- ck2
wow 50 light years is indeed "nearby" in relative terms
nearly 6x the size of earth though, good luck trying to launch a probe off that surface
NASA has a neat "exoplanet catalog" which is about to leap in size next few years with new telescopes and techniques
- mapsedge
Only 880,000 years at our current average speed. Mind blowing, that.
- westurner
There is a market shortage of helium but shouldn't be:
There's also helium in methane, but unfortunately few places crack out the helium from natural gas.
TIL Helium kills Kudzu and powers fusion power plants.