Scientists have identified seven potentially habitable places in the solar system

A research team from New York University Abu Dhabi has done some pretty interesting research. Scientists analyzed most of the objects in the solar system and selected seven objects in which life could be present with a high probability.

We will talk about this selection technique and its results in this material.

solar system

Method for selecting potentially habitable places in the solar system

So, in their rather unusual work, the scientists applied a new method based on the microbial habitability index (MHI).

This parameter indicates to what extent this or that environment is suitable for the successful development of extremophiles (organisms that are able to survive in the most extreme conditions on Earth).

This work was carried out in several levels. And at the first, scientists distributed six important parameters that can affect habitability:

1. Temperature.
2. Pressure.
3. UV exposure.
4. Ionizing radiation.
5. HP level.
6. Salinity of the environment.

At the second stage, scientists identified the main types of environments where life could exist in principle:

• Icy poles of the planets.
• surface of the continent.
• Subsurface ice.
• Inner cavities of the continent.
• Ocean.
• Ocean floor.
• Sources of geothermal activity.

And so, at the third stage of their work, scientists selected at least seven objects of the solar system in which living microorganisms can live.

So where in the solar system could life be hiding?

So, according to the selection made, life is most likely to be found on Enceladus, namely in the geothermal system of Saturn's satellite.

It was this object that received five out of five in terms of the probability of being inhabited (with the exception of ionizing radiation, for which scientists simply do not have data).

Also, the list of candidates for habitability includes our red neighbor - Mars, Europa (satellite of Jupiter).

In addition, the list includes Titan (the largest satellite of Saturn), Ganymede with Callisto (both revolve around Jupiter) and even Pluto, although these candidates have less favorable conditions for survival and development extremophiles.

In order to confirm or disprove the presence of life on these objects of the solar system, it is necessary to study them with the help of spacecraft, and work in this direction is underway.

For example, the Europa Clipper mission is being developed, which is aimed at studying Europe.

So we just have to wait until this spacecraft lands on the satellite of Jupiter and transmits data on the initial analysis of the surface.

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Thanks for attention!