Transformation of uninhabitable mini-Neptune into Earth-like world maybe possible

A new study has recently revealed that transformation of inhabitable mini-Neptune into Earth-like world maybe possible.

Two phenomena known to inhibit the potential habitability of planets, tidal forces and vigorous stellar activity, might instead help chances for life on certain planets orbiting low-mass stars.

University of Washington doctoral student Rodrigo Luger and co-author Rory Barnes, research assistant professor, stated that the two forces could combine to transform uninhabitable "mini-Neptunes," big planets in outer orbits with solid cores and thick hydrogen atmospheres, into closer-in, gas-free, potentially habitable worlds.

Most of the stars in our galaxy are low-mass stars, also called M dwarfs. Smaller and dimmer than the sun, with close-in habitable zones, they make good targets for finding and studying potentially habitable planets.

Astronomers expect to find many Earthlike and "super-Earth" planets in the habitable zones of these stars in coming years, so it's important to know if they might indeed support life.

The study is published in the journal Astrobiology.