Is there a new Earth out there? | Katja Poppenhaeger | TEDxKlagenfurt

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] I want to talk to you about something I

I want to talk to you about something I

I want to talk to you about something I find really exciting and that is other

find really exciting and that is other

find really exciting and that is other planets in our galaxy we have to

planets in our galaxy we have to

planets in our galaxy we have to discover thousands of other planets out

discover thousands of other planets out

discover thousands of other planets out there and other solar systems and most

there and other solar systems and most

there and other solar systems and most of them are really different from our

of them are really different from our

of them are really different from our home planet a lot of them are extremely

home planet a lot of them are extremely

home planet a lot of them are extremely hot

hot

hot and others are extremely cold and only a

and others are extremely cold and only a

and others are extremely cold and only a few of them really a small fraction is

few of them really a small fraction is

few of them really a small fraction is located at just the right distance to

located at just the right distance to

located at just the right distance to their own Sun so that they have a

their own Sun so that they have a

their own Sun so that they have a moderate temperature this is what we

moderate temperature this is what we

moderate temperature this is what we call the habitable zone around a star

call the habitable zone around a star

call the habitable zone around a star and it’s where water can be present in

and it’s where water can be present in

and it’s where water can be present in liquid form on the planetary surface

liquid form on the planetary surface

liquid form on the planetary surface this is the basic prerequisite for life

this is the basic prerequisite for life

this is the basic prerequisite for life as we know it

as we know it

as we know it so I want to take you on a journey to

so I want to take you on a journey to

so I want to take you on a journey to three star systems and we’ll take a look

three star systems and we’ll take a look

three star systems and we’ll take a look at what planets and the habitable zones

at what planets and the habitable zones

at what planets and the habitable zones might look like we’ll start a journey

might look like we’ll start a journey

might look like we’ll start a journey here on earth and as you all know it is

here on earth and as you all know it is

here on earth and as you all know it is a habitable planet and as you also know

a habitable planet and as you also know

a habitable planet and as you also know we haven’t been treating our own planet

we haven’t been treating our own planet

we haven’t been treating our own planet particularly well lately it’s almost as

particularly well lately it’s almost as

particularly well lately it’s almost as if we’re try trying to turn it into an

if we’re try trying to turn it into an

if we’re try trying to turn it into an inhabitable planet so let’s just say we

inhabitable planet so let’s just say we

inhabitable planet so let’s just say we actually managed to do that right we

actually managed to do that right we

actually managed to do that right we messed it all up

messed it all up

messed it all up we made it inhabitable we can’t stay

we made it inhabitable we can’t stay

we made it inhabitable we can’t stay here we actually have to go out and find

here we actually have to go out and find

here we actually have to go out and find ourselves a new home so what do we do

ourselves a new home so what do we do

ourselves a new home so what do we do let’s say we have a spaceship it’s

let’s say we have a spaceship it’s

let’s say we have a spaceship it’s really fast it can travel at the fastest

really fast it can travel at the fastest

really fast it can travel at the fastest speed possible which is the speed of

speed possible which is the speed of

speed possible which is the speed of light so we get in we all get in we

light so we get in we all get in we

light so we get in we all get in we switch on the engine we start and whew

switch on the engine we start and whew

switch on the engine we start and whew we fly past the moon after just one

we fly past the moon after just one

we fly past the moon after just one second and after eight minutes we fly by

second and after eight minutes we fly by

second and after eight minutes we fly by the Sun and then we leave the solar

the Sun and then we leave the solar

the Sun and then we leave the solar system our first destination is the star

system our first destination is the star

system our first destination is the star Proxima Centauri

Proxima Centauri

Proxima Centauri it’s our closest neighbor in space the

it’s our closest neighbor in space the

it’s our closest neighbor in space the nearest star to us and even though it’s

nearest star to us and even though it’s

nearest star to us and even though it’s our closest neighbor and we’re traveling

our closest neighbor and we’re traveling

our closest neighbor and we’re traveling at the fastest speed possible it will

at the fastest speed possible it will

at the fastest speed possible it will take us roughly four years to get there

take us roughly four years to get there

take us roughly four years to get there because space is pretty damn big so when

because space is pretty damn big so when

because space is pretty damn big so when we arrived there we found out hey we’re

we arrived there we found out hey we’re

we arrived there we found out hey we’re really lucky there actually is a planet

really lucky there actually is a planet

really lucky there actually is a planet in the habitable zone and when we land

in the habitable zone and when we land

in the habitable zone and when we land there

there

there it might look something like this we see

it might look something like this we see

it might look something like this we see that there’s a dim red Sun in the sky

that there’s a dim red Sun in the sky

that there’s a dim red Sun in the sky and we land on the surface and when we

and we land on the surface and when we

and we land on the surface and when we look around and we actually happen to

look around and we actually happen to

look around and we actually happen to see something like a tree we might

see something like a tree we might

see something like a tree we might notice that all the leaves are black

notice that all the leaves are black

notice that all the leaves are black because the plants have to gather all

because the plants have to gather all

because the plants have to gather all the light that impinges upon them they

the light that impinges upon them they

the light that impinges upon them they can’t just be green they have to be

can’t just be green they have to be

can’t just be green they have to be black to absorb all the light they get

black to absorb all the light they get

black to absorb all the light they get now we’ll notice something else that’s

now we’ll notice something else that’s

now we’ll notice something else that’s very different from our home we will

very different from our home we will

very different from our home we will notice that this planet is what we asked

notice that this planet is what we asked

notice that this planet is what we asked a physicists called tidally locked that

a physicists called tidally locked that

a physicists called tidally locked that means it always faces the same side to

means it always faces the same side to

means it always faces the same side to its Sun and that means we have one half

its Sun and that means we have one half

its Sun and that means we have one half of the planet that has eternal day and

of the planet that has eternal day and

of the planet that has eternal day and we have another half that is eternal

we have another half that is eternal

we have another half that is eternal night and where we might want to a set

night and where we might want to a set

night and where we might want to a set up camp and try to stay there for a

up camp and try to stay there for a

up camp and try to stay there for a while is that RIM around it where we

while is that RIM around it where we

while is that RIM around it where we have eternal sunrise or eternal sunset

have eternal sunrise or eternal sunset

have eternal sunrise or eternal sunset if you like that better so this is a

if you like that better so this is a

if you like that better so this is a pretty exotic and fascinating view that

pretty exotic and fascinating view that

pretty exotic and fascinating view that we have however we might notice that

we have however we might notice that

we have however we might notice that there is something that makes our life

there is something that makes our life

there is something that makes our life there really tough and the reason for

there really tough and the reason for

there really tough and the reason for that is that Suns like our own Sun are

that is that Suns like our own Sun are

that is that Suns like our own Sun are also Proxima Centauri they have not

also Proxima Centauri they have not

also Proxima Centauri they have not these nice steady light sources that

these nice steady light sources that

these nice steady light sources that they look like when we view them with

they look like when we view them with

they look like when we view them with the naked eye actually when we look at

the naked eye actually when we look at

the naked eye actually when we look at our own Sun up close like this you see

our own Sun up close like this you see

our own Sun up close like this you see they have these spots on the surface

they have these spots on the surface

they have these spots on the surface these bright spots and what you also see

these bright spots and what you also see

these bright spots and what you also see for our Sun is it’s flickering it’s

for our Sun is it’s flickering it’s

for our Sun is it’s flickering it’s moving we see really hot plasma doing

moving we see really hot plasma doing

moving we see really hot plasma doing its intricate dance among the magnetic

its intricate dance among the magnetic

its intricate dance among the magnetic fields on the solar surface and

fields on the solar surface and

fields on the solar surface and sometimes we see bright flashes

sometimes we see bright flashes

sometimes we see bright flashes happening these we call flares and they

happening these we call flares and they

happening these we call flares and they emit lots of high-energy photons x-rays

emit lots of high-energy photons x-rays

emit lots of high-energy photons x-rays lots of charged particles and this is

lots of charged particles and this is

lots of charged particles and this is only what our good old quiet Sundance

only what our good old quiet Sundance

only what our good old quiet Sundance for something like Proxima Centauri we

for something like Proxima Centauri we

for something like Proxima Centauri we know that these flares are much more

know that these flares are much more

know that these flares are much more violent there will be huge magnetic

violent there will be huge magnetic

violent there will be huge magnetic loops there will be huge eruptions of

loops there will be huge eruptions of

loops there will be huge eruptions of the stellar surface and this is really

the stellar surface and this is really

the stellar surface and this is really bad news for us on our little planet

bad news for us on our little planet

bad news for us on our little planet there because these violent flares and

there because these violent flares and

there because these violent flares and the particles coming out from the star

the particles coming out from the star

the particles coming out from the star might strip away the atmosphere of the

might strip away the atmosphere of the

might strip away the atmosphere of the little planet well that’s bad for us

little planet well that’s bad for us

little planet well that’s bad for us right we’d like something to breathe so

right we’d like something to breathe so

right we’d like something to breathe so what we have to do is actually you have

what we have to do is actually you have

what we have to do is actually you have get back into a spaceship and we have to

get back into a spaceship and we have to

get back into a spaceship and we have to keep traveling and find ourselves a

keep traveling and find ourselves a

keep traveling and find ourselves a better place to live now let’s go for

better place to live now let’s go for

better place to live now let’s go for something else that’s exotic but also

something else that’s exotic but also

something else that’s exotic but also really fascinating let’s go for an EXO

really fascinating let’s go for an EXO

really fascinating let’s go for an EXO moon an X alone is a moon that circles

moon an X alone is a moon that circles

moon an X alone is a moon that circles around a planet in another solar system

around a planet in another solar system

around a planet in another solar system let’s go for a moon that circles around

let’s go for a moon that circles around

let’s go for a moon that circles around massive planets something like our own

massive planets something like our own

massive planets something like our own Jupiter or Saturn when we land on that

Jupiter or Saturn when we land on that

Jupiter or Saturn when we land on that tiny moon we don’t have just the Sun in

tiny moon we don’t have just the Sun in

tiny moon we don’t have just the Sun in the sky we also have a big planet in the

the sky we also have a big planet in the

the sky we also have a big planet in the sky is a fantastic view if you imagine

sky is a fantastic view if you imagine

sky is a fantastic view if you imagine that right now what we also might notice

that right now what we also might notice

that right now what we also might notice with our giant planet hanging there if

with our giant planet hanging there if

with our giant planet hanging there if that we have northern lights on such a

that we have northern lights on such a

that we have northern lights on such a planet and now this is not an artist’s

planet and now this is not an artist’s

planet and now this is not an artist’s impression this is real photographic

impression this is real photographic

impression this is real photographic data from our own solar system this is

data from our own solar system this is

data from our own solar system this is our Saturn and there are actual northern

our Saturn and there are actual northern

our Saturn and there are actual northern lights on it that were imaged with

lights on it that were imaged with

lights on it that were imaged with another telescope there fantastic

another telescope there fantastic

another telescope there fantastic imagine having that in your sky all the

imagine having that in your sky all the

imagine having that in your sky all the time it’s great isn’t it

time it’s great isn’t it

time it’s great isn’t it and now this is good news because not

and now this is good news because not

and now this is good news because not only are the Northern Lights beautiful

only are the Northern Lights beautiful

only are the Northern Lights beautiful they also mean that the giant planet has

they also mean that the giant planet has

they also mean that the giant planet has a magnetic field and such a magnetic

a magnetic field and such a magnetic

a magnetic field and such a magnetic field can shield us can be a guard

field can shield us can be a guard

field can shield us can be a guard against the negative effects that flares

against the negative effects that flares

against the negative effects that flares from the Sun can have on us so if we’re

from the Sun can have on us so if we’re

from the Sun can have on us so if we’re here with our tiny X a moon somewhere

here with our tiny X a moon somewhere

here with our tiny X a moon somewhere here we are shielded by that magnetic

here we are shielded by that magnetic

here we are shielded by that magnetic field and our atmosphere will not be

field and our atmosphere will not be

field and our atmosphere will not be stripped away as in the case of Proxima

stripped away as in the case of Proxima

stripped away as in the case of Proxima Centauri so that’s great but something

Centauri so that’s great but something

Centauri so that’s great but something else that we might notice is if our moon

else that we might notice is if our moon

else that we might notice is if our moon is not in a perfectly circular orbit

is not in a perfectly circular orbit

is not in a perfectly circular orbit what will happen is that the

what will happen is that the

what will happen is that the gravitational force from that massive

gravitational force from that massive

gravitational force from that massive planet there will squeeze and squish the

planet there will squeeze and squish the

planet there will squeeze and squish the interior of our Moon and if you squeeze

interior of our Moon and if you squeeze

interior of our Moon and if you squeeze and squish the interior of the moon or

and squish the interior of the moon or

and squish the interior of the moon or of the planet you get something and that

of the planet you get something and that

of the planet you get something and that is volcanoes no volcanoes are pretty

is volcanoes no volcanoes are pretty

is volcanoes no volcanoes are pretty awesome it’s it’s a really cool thing to

awesome it’s it’s a really cool thing to

awesome it’s it’s a really cool thing to look at right but it won’t be just any

look at right but it won’t be just any

look at right but it won’t be just any old volcano like we have on earth it’s

old volcano like we have on earth it’s

old volcano like we have on earth it’s going to be massively large volcanoes so

going to be massively large volcanoes so

going to be massively large volcanoes so what I’m gonna show you again is a real

what I’m gonna show you again is a real

what I’m gonna show you again is a real picture from our own solar system from

picture from our own solar system from

picture from our own solar system from one of Jupiter’s moons and you will see

one of Jupiter’s moons and you will see

one of Jupiter’s moons and you will see a massive volcanic eruption here on the

a massive volcanic eruption here on the

a massive volcanic eruption here on the rim this is this is really intense

rim this is this is really intense

rim this is this is really intense because what you see there is 150

because what you see there is 150

because what you see there is 150 kilometers high

kilometers high

kilometers high imagine that 150 kilometers now you

imagine that 150 kilometers now you

imagine that 150 kilometers now you don’t want to live next to a volcano

don’t want to live next to a volcano

don’t want to live next to a volcano that produces a 150 kilometer large ash

that produces a 150 kilometer large ash

that produces a 150 kilometer large ash cloud you don’t want that right so you

cloud you don’t want that right so you

cloud you don’t want that right so you might say hey you know what you can live

might say hey you know what you can live

might say hey you know what you can live somewhere here that’s that’s all right

somewhere here that’s that’s all right

somewhere here that’s that’s all right right no it’s not tough luck because

right no it’s not tough luck because

right no it’s not tough luck because that’s another volcanic eruption going

that’s another volcanic eruption going

that’s another volcanic eruption going on here so being on such an EXO moon is

on here so being on such an EXO moon is

on here so being on such an EXO moon is maybe not such a great idea for us to

maybe not such a great idea for us to

maybe not such a great idea for us to live there to stay there to build a life

live there to stay there to build a life

live there to stay there to build a life there so with a heavy heart even though

there so with a heavy heart even though

there so with a heavy heart even though we have this beautiful outlook on the

we have this beautiful outlook on the

we have this beautiful outlook on the giant planet we get back into our

giant planet we get back into our

giant planet we get back into our spaceship and this time we might

spaceship and this time we might

spaceship and this time we might actually aim for something that is a bit

actually aim for something that is a bit

actually aim for something that is a bit more familiar the exotic places are

more familiar the exotic places are

more familiar the exotic places are great but this time that’s aim for

great but this time that’s aim for

great but this time that’s aim for something that’s really similar to a

something that’s really similar to a

something that’s really similar to a solar system we are looking for

solar system we are looking for

solar system we are looking for something that we as astrophysicists

something that we as astrophysicists

something that we as astrophysicists call a solar twin this is a star that

call a solar twin this is a star that

call a solar twin this is a star that has pretty much the same mass and

has pretty much the same mass and

has pretty much the same mass and temperature as our own Sun and have a

temperature as our own Sun and have a

temperature as our own Sun and have a few of those around actually to get to

few of those around actually to get to

few of those around actually to get to the closest one to us we have to travel

the closest one to us we have to travel

the closest one to us we have to travel for around about 40 years in our super

for around about 40 years in our super

for around about 40 years in our super fast spaceship but well we’ll make it

fast spaceship but well we’ll make it

fast spaceship but well we’ll make it we’ll get there after 40 years and let’s

we’ll get there after 40 years and let’s

we’ll get there after 40 years and let’s say we really have a lot of luck and

say we really have a lot of luck and

say we really have a lot of luck and there is actually something like an

there is actually something like an

there is actually something like an earth-sized planet and somewhat

earth-sized planet and somewhat

earth-sized planet and somewhat earth-like orbit and what we’re really

earth-like orbit and what we’re really

earth-like orbit and what we’re really hoping for is of course something like

hoping for is of course something like

hoping for is of course something like this when we get closer right you want

this when we get closer right you want

this when we get closer right you want to see something that actually has

to see something that actually has

to see something that actually has oceans that has water but if that planet

oceans that has water but if that planet

oceans that has water but if that planet that we see there isn’t an orbit that’s

that we see there isn’t an orbit that’s

that we see there isn’t an orbit that’s only three percent smaller than our

only three percent smaller than our

only three percent smaller than our Earth’s orbit what we might rather see

Earth’s orbit what we might rather see

Earth’s orbit what we might rather see is something like this a planet that’s

is something like this a planet that’s

is something like this a planet that’s completely shrouded in acid clouds and

completely shrouded in acid clouds and

completely shrouded in acid clouds and below those clouds of acid there’s an

below those clouds of acid there’s an

below those clouds of acid there’s an air and surface more than 400 degrees

air and surface more than 400 degrees

air and surface more than 400 degrees hot so how do we know this well this is

hot so how do we know this well this is

hot so how do we know this well this is actually Venus from our own solar system

actually Venus from our own solar system

actually Venus from our own solar system it doesn’t take much to turn something

it doesn’t take much to turn something

it doesn’t take much to turn something that might have become an earth into

that might have become an earth into

that might have become an earth into something like Venus it’s just a few

something like Venus it’s just a few

something like Venus it’s just a few percent change in orbit and now there we

percent change in orbit and now there we

percent change in orbit and now there we are right we traveled all this distance

are right we traveled all this distance

are right we traveled all this distance we looked at all these fantastic places

we looked at all these fantastic places

we looked at all these fantastic places and still we haven’t found a place to

and still we haven’t found a place to

and still we haven’t found a place to live so what does this mean for us there

live so what does this mean for us there

live so what does this mean for us there are a lot of planets out there in our

are a lot of planets out there in our

are a lot of planets out there in our galaxy actually we know that on average

galaxy actually we know that on average

galaxy actually we know that on average there’s one planet per star out there so

there’s one planet per star out there so

there’s one planet per star out there so that’s really really a lot of planets

that’s really really a lot of planets

that’s really really a lot of planets right and there will be a few of those

right and there will be a few of those

right and there will be a few of those that will be like earth but none of them

that will be like earth but none of them

that will be like earth but none of them is just around the corner there’s no

is just around the corner there’s no

is just around the corner there’s no second home for us near to us so here’s

second home for us near to us so here’s

second home for us near to us so here’s what I want us to do here’s what I want

what I want us to do here’s what I want

what I want us to do here’s what I want all of us to do I want us to keep

all of us to do I want us to keep

all of us to do I want us to keep reaching for the stars but to take good

reaching for the stars but to take good

reaching for the stars but to take good care of our planet at the same time

care of our planet at the same time

care of our planet at the same time let’s not mess it up thank you

let’s not mess it up thank you

let’s not mess it up thank you [Applause]