For decades, astronomers and exobiologists – scientists studying potential extraterrestrial life – they study the stars, looking for clues that testify to the possible presence of life in the cosmos. However, little scientific evidence has been obtained to support the theory of a universe full of UFOs.
Various studies have taken turns to change the perspective of this young field of research, including one recently published on The Astrophysical Journal Letters. In its pages, the authors argue that to have a better chance of discover a real alien planet, inhabited by other organisms, we should focus on the oldest stars in our galaxy.
They are among those that have guaranteed greater possibilities and time for development to their planets, so as to develop life and a large number of species, compared to other younger stars which, although impressive, have not enjoyed the same opportunities.
According to scientists, the magnetism of older stars also allows flora and fauna to better protect themselves from deep cosmic radiation, as happens repeatedly on Earth.
This radiation is very disturbing and can reduce the chances of finding life on a given planet to 0. Within the solar system it is the magnetism of the Sun, together with that of Jupiter, Saturn and the Earth itself that keeps them away from our surface.
To carry out this study and determine whether old stars, more than 5 billion years old, really offer greater possibilities for their planets to develop life, astronomers worked with some very particular instruments, such as the “Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic” and the “Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite” of NASA.
In technical jargon, extrasolar planets are called exoplanets and on average they are very different than we think. They may be bigger and brighter than Jupiter or so close to their stars that they are considered inhospitable compared to our standards of living.
The closest exoplanet in existence is very close to Earth, not even 17,000 light years, and scientists have spent months, if not years, improving their observation techniques to describe it.