Life-sustaining planets in interstellar space?
@article{Stevenson1999LifesustainingPI, title={Life-sustaining planets in interstellar space?}, author={David J. Stevenson}, journal={Nature}, year={1999}, volume={400}, pages={32-32} }
During planet formation, rock and ice embryos of the order of Earth's mass may be formed, some of which may be ejected from the Solar System as they scatter gravitationally from proto-giant planets. These bodies can retain atmospheres rich in molecular hydrogen which, upon cooling, can have basal pressures of 102 to 104 bars. Pressure-induced far-infrared opacity of H2 may prevent these bodies from eliminating internal radioactive heat except by developing an extensive adiabatic (with no loss…
159 Citations
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