‘Rogue’ Planets Found Roaming Through Space
What happens when planetary bodies go rogue? Well, that's one universal mystery that scientists didn't actually know of until a team of Japanese researchers claimed to have found 10 such free-range roamers -- and what's more, they might be shockingly common in space.
What happens when planetary bodies go rogue? Well, that’s one universal mystery that scientists didn’t actually know of until a team of Japanese researchers claimed to have found 10 such free-range roamers — and what’s more, they might be shockingly common in space. –KA
Wait, before you go…BBC:
Indeed, the researchers hypothesise these objects were formed in a planetary disc, like the planets in our own Solar System, before gravitational forces ejected them from these systems.
Professor Joachim Wambsganss of the University of Heidelberg in Germany, who reviewed the study for Nature, said this was the “most plausible theory”. However, he added there was a minority view that planets could form the same way that stars do, but fail to reach the critical point of thermonuclear ignition.
He too agreed the most “shocking” element of the data was the projected frequency of such objects.
Dr Martin Dominik of the University of St Andrews in Scotland agreed, and said he would be “a bit cautious” about the results.
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Dig Scape
DIG•SCAPE is an audio alternative-phenomenological-impressionistic, mulitcultural soundscape mashup of loud issues.
Both the Amazon and the Congo have helped mitigate the effects of global warming. That may no longer be the case, a new study reveals.
Urban planners need to add more green space and tree-lined avenues to the mix to combat global warming in our concrete jungles.
We have a finite amount of time left to coexist with large parts of the biosphere, including thousands of species of plants and animals.
Waterlogged hillsides are dangerous. For those who live on them, or further downhill, they can be life-threatening.
The mass of all the people on the planet is more or less 10 times the mass of all living wild mammals.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.