"A mass simulation experiment suggests most planets would not have been able to cope with changes to their climate while still supporting life for the three billion years Earth has, scientists have said.
"Researchers at the University of Southampton put 100,000 randomly generated planets through the effects of climate evolution 100 times each. Just 8,700, less than 10%, stayed the course at least once, according to the study, which was published in the Nature journal Communications Earth and Environment."
The article goes on to mention that a key factor in the long-term habitability of planets is chance. Puts things into perspective for everyone on this pale blue dot.
Before reading the article I would have argued the opposite. Once life is as pervasive and varied as it was and is on earth - existing as large organisms and single celled organisms and everything in between, having rather expansive tolerances for acceptance habitable environments—- from the extreme cold to extreme hot, being able to tap energy out of all sorts of crazy places and the capability to adapt and evolve, I'd have been less surprised.
"Researchers at the University of Southampton put 100,000 randomly generated planets through the effects of climate evolution 100 times each. Just 8,700, less than 10%, stayed the course at least once, according to the study, which was published in the Nature journal Communications Earth and Environment."
The article goes on to mention that a key factor in the long-term habitability of planets is chance. Puts things into perspective for everyone on this pale blue dot.