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Earth was born dry until a cosmic collision made it a blue planet

sciencedaily.com

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Re: Earth was born dry until a cosmic collision made it a blue planet

#4
This could mean in the Drake equation ne -number of planets capable of life- is very small. A planet has to be hit with a comet big enough to deliver a large amount of water but not so big or fast to destroy it. And be in the Goldilocks zone of the star. Also the mass of the planet would play a part - gravity of more massive ones would be more likely to capture a comet. But again, too massive and I could see that hampering life.

Re: Earth was born dry until a cosmic collision made it a blue planet

#7
post #4

This could mean in the Drake equation ne -number of planets capable of life- is very small. A planet has to be hit with a comet big enough to deliver a large amount of water but not so big or fast to destroy it. And be in the Goldilocks zone of the star. Also the mass of the planet would play a part - gravity of more massive ones would be more likely to capture a comet. But again, too massive and I could see that ham…

Unless collisions like the article suggests are a statistical inevitability, that is.

Re: Earth was born dry until a cosmic collision made it a blue planet

#8
post #5

How does this square with the fact that we have solid evidence of water on Mars as well?

Having some water and having lots of water is a slight difference. The most arid dessert on earth is a jungle compared to Mars.

(Also Mars could have been also hit.)

Re: Earth was born dry until a cosmic collision made it a blue planet

#10
post #7
post #4

This could mean in the Drake equation ne -number of planets capable of life- is very small. A planet has to be hit with a comet big enough to deliver a large amount of water but not so big or fast to destroy it. And be in the Goldilocks zone of the star. Also the mass of the planet would play a part - gravity of more massive ones would be more likely to capture a comet. But again, too massive and I could see that ham…

Unless collisions like the article suggests are a statistical inevitability, that is.

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. So long as you have elemental oxygen, it will react with things and hydrogen is the thing it will react with the most. So having water is almost a given for any Star system. Additionally, protoplanet and cometary collisions are in fact statistically inevitable. The real question is if water can be delivered at a point after enough gravity has amassed to ensure the water stays there.
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