How planetary geophysics can teach us how to find life beyond Earth

Various fields of science are being used as tools to peer into the farthest reaches of our universe in the search for worlds that could support life. Among these fields, geophysics has a special place..

Geophysics is a field that studies the composition and physical processes occurring inside our planet. But what happens under our feet also affects everything above our heads.

As Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, who is considered the father of modern chemistry, said in his famous quote: “In nature, nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything is transformed”, therefore it is not possible for the events occurring in our blue world to occur in a similar way. worlds for us?

A look at our backyard

Unfortunately, we still cannot make interplanetary visiting flights to drink tea and collect samples. Therefore, we have to use tools that allow indirect measurement and analysis of the object of interest. And here comes geophysics!

Study the composition of the soil, its layers and the physical processes involved in the development and evolution of our planetIt could provide us with clues, almost a recipe, for how other planets with Earth-like properties behave.

This field uses software and simulations to help us understand how certain materials can interact, transform, adapt to different depths in the soil, and even retain their properties. that can affect terrestrial phenomena, such as the Earth’s electromagnetic field.

Dynamo Theory explains that the Earth’s outer core contains a liquid layer of Iron and Nickel that is in constant motion and interacts with the inner core, producing an electric current.

According to theory, this energy current is the main source of the Earth’s magnetic field. The rest is formed by the influence of magnetic rocks in the crust, solar winds and the ionosphere.

Knowing how the layers of our planet work and understanding the physical processes triggered by the interaction of its components is the main clue so that we can look beyond our atmosphere and try to recognize through observation whether similar phenomena occur on other planets.

Planetary geophysics

We can generalize, albeit cautiously, the data collected and analyzed about our planet to make evolutionary comparisons with other worlds. From Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the rocky planets of our Solar System, we can glean information about how these worlds were born and developed over thousands of years.

Studying its composition, the interior of the planet, the atmosphere, gravitational forces, magnetic fields, earthquakes, the existence of oceans, Along with other events that complement the geophysical map of these planets, we can infer whether the conditions exist for biological life to exist and sustain itself in these environments..

It is also possible to perform this mapping on gaseous planets and other celestial bodies in the universe, such as satellites, asteroids, and other spheres. Many space missions use instruments that provide data for geophysical mapping.

To know The heart of the planets is the main role of planetary geophysics. In this way, we can predict and identify with some accuracy whether an environment is suitable for life, even if the observation is indirect. The data needed to look at other worlds in this way was produced here on our own planet.

Did you know geophysics? So take the opportunity to understand what Earth’s Asthenosphere is and its importance. Stay tuned to TecMundo for more research about our planet!