A distant exoplanet that never experiences sunrise or sunset due to tidal locking may still support life, thanks to a stable internal heat circulation that moderates surface temperatures despite extreme conditions.
- One side of these planets is always day, the other always night.
- Researchers recreated internal heat flow with a lab model.
- Stable heat circulation moderates harsh surface extremes.
What happened
Researchers studied the exoplanet LHS 3844b, which orbits a red dwarf star 48.5 light years away and is tidally locked, meaning one side faces its star permanently while the other side remains in constant darkness. With surface temperatures ranging from extreme heat on the day side to near absolute zero on the night side, this environment initially appears too hostile for life.
To understand its interior dynamics, scientists constructed a physical model using a glycerol-filled tank and thermochromic liquid crystals to mimic mantle convection. Their experiments revealed a slow, steady circulation loop where heat rises beneath the hot side and sinks under the cold side, forming a continuous and predictable flow.
Why it feels good
This steady internal circulation means heat can be distributed laterally across the planet, potentially creating regions with moderate temperatures that could support life. Such stability contrasts with Earth's chaotic mantle convection, offering a surprising possibility that these extreme worlds are not entirely inhospitable.
Since tidally locked planets and moons are common in the universe, this discovery broadens the scope of where life might exist. Understanding how heat moves inside these planets gives scientists hopeful clues in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
What to enjoy or watch next
Future studies may explore how surface and atmospheric conditions on tidally locked planets interact with this internal heat flow, further illuminating their potential for life. Observations of exoplanets using next-generation telescopes could verify these heat circulation patterns and identify promising candidates for habitability.
For those curious about space exploration and astrobiology, following research in planetary interior dynamics offers a fascinating glimpse into how life might survive in seemingly extreme environments, challenging our Earth-centric views of habitability.