Science found a plan B to save humanity from the end of the world – 02/09/2019

At all times there were gurus of the end of the world. With more or less quackery. But never like now – a situation in which it is well known that there will be a The end for planet earth, they set to work to find a plan B that saves humanity.

"Our civilization has all the eggs laid in the same basket, the Earth, and all that we could enjoy could disappear as a result of a great catastrophe: the impact of an asteroid, a climatic hecatomb or the evolution of the Sun and the boiling of our oceans. Therefore, it is better to move towards space to prolong the existence of humanity, "warns Live physicist Avi Loeb of Harvard University. Loeb is the same scientist who surprised the world a few months ago by stating that an asteroid detected in 2017 might actually be the remains of a foreign-made ship. He was also a friend of the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who, before dying, had suggested the same thing: find a new space hearth as quickly as possible.

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The next Centauri B, a planet that revolves around the Sun's closest star, is currently the most powerful candidate. First, and although it sounds strange, for its proximity. It's only 4.25 light-years from Earth. To get an idea: the Moon is at 1.3 seconds of light and Mars at 4.35 minutes of light (when its orbit approaches). In astronomy, the distances are so great that it would be very tedious to speak of kilometers. This is why other types of measurement are used, such as parsec, astronomical units o light years: the distance traveled by the light in one year. The fact that Proxima Centauri B is less than 5 light-years away is a good point in favor. Although it is far away.

Next Centauri B has a hemisphere always lit, subjected to high temperatures while the dark hemisphere is extremely cold.

"By optimizing a small probe (a few kilograms) and the propulsion we have now, I do not think we could do it in less than 10,000 years. there are projects in preparation for the construction of solar sails powered by lasers of the Earth, who would be able to launch mini-instruments at high speed: they would arrive in less than 100 years, "says astronomer Guillem Anglada Escudé, Queen Mary University in London , one of the discoverers of Next Centauri B.

Loeb talks about other deadlines and some benefits: "With the rockets we have today, it would take 50,000 years, but it would be worth it.This planet is located 20 times closer to its star than the distance between the Earth of the Sun. Proxima Centauri B, Proxima Centauri, has a special feature: is a red dwarf star, with only 12% of the Sun's mbad and, therefore, much weaker. This is why the temperature in Proxima Centauri B is similar to that of the Earth, although this does not guarantee the existence of life as we know it here. To have liquid water and good chemical conditions, you need an atmosphere. For the moment, we are not sure that he has it. Its atmosphere could have been washed away by the wind of its own star. "

Anglada Escudé adds that this new world has a side that always looks at its star, as happens with the Moon, which always shows the same face as the Earth. The other is "hidden". Because of this phenomenon, it has a hemisphere always lit and that would be subjected to high temperatures while the black hemisphere would be extremely cold. "Because of this synchronized rotation, we also know that there are no days nor nights in this region.One side of the planet is always daytime and the other in perpetual darkness. What we also know is that a year lasts 11.2 days, that's the time it takes to spin its star.

How cold

Cold, but not so much. Average of four degrees centigrade according to calculations. This is good news because this temperature favors the conditions of the existence of liquid water, key factor of terrestrial life. Something that can confirm it Live NASA scientist Anthony Del Genio has conducted a rigorous study of the main features of this planet. "We know that Próxima Centauri B He is taller than the earthbut not much bigger, with a mbad 1.3 times larger. But what is amazing is that it can contain liquid water on the surface and that it could then be habitable. "

He does not get up or do it at dusk, but he is always lived as in an eternal noon on his daytime side, he who looks at his star.

Del Genio's experiments with climate models to learn more details revealed another interesting conclusion: "His star is much smaller and colder than our Sun and its light is mostly red and at wavelengths Even larger than those in the eye, man can capture, so it is very likely that the color of your sky is reddish, and it does not rise or come at dusk, but it is seen always as in an eternal noon on his diurnal side, he who looks at his star, and on both sides the sky is cloudy most of the time. "

Look also

If going to Proxima Centauri B was possible, where would it be convenient to settle for humanity? On the Moon, Mars or in this new world? "The Moon and Mars do not have a substantial atmosphere either, but they are much closer, which shortens the trip and makes building settlements for humans more convenient – this can be the first step. see if we can adapt to Próxima B ", replies Avi Loeb.

Oceanic world

"If we could ignore the distance, I think we could inhabit Protaxima Centauri B in the so-called limb region, where the sun is still on the horizon, in this region we could be protected from radiation, which is more intense than those received on Earth, and we would have acceptable temperatures and energy. According to some models of study, it is possible that Proxima Centauri B is an "oceanic world", without continents. If this were confirmed, then Mars would agree. But everything is decisive, "explains Anglada Escudé.

Without knowing exactly what this alternative planet looks like (it lacks observations and research), the only certainty is that humanity needs a plan B. " a human mission on Mars they are like the first steps of a baby towards the colonization of new worlds. It's a path that we can not stop if we want to endure, "sums up Avi Loeb. We are going there?