MIT DISCOVERS LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

Life in 100% Hydrogen Atmosphere

Source:  NASA's Hubble Telescope

Big Impact on Search for Life in Space

Scientists at MIT have made a major discovery.  

They've found that microorganisms - life - exists in

an atmosphere of 100% hydrogen.  In fact, organisms

found on Earth can survive in environments 

previously considered inhospitable and composed

of 100% hydrogen.

Expanding the Search for ET

The findings have a big impact on the search for

life in space.  A significant number of exoplanets, or 

orbiting stars, contain atmospheres with large amounts

of hydrogen.  These exoplanets have been ignored

in the search for alien life until now.  Award-winning

astrophysicist MIT Professor Sara Seager, who led

the study, is urging astronomers to expand the types

of planets where they are searching for ET.

Warm Planets

Prof. Seager also discovered that worlds in space, even at

a distance ten-times away from a star with a hydrogen-rich

atmosphere, would be capable of containing life

because of hydrogen's warming effects.  Hydrogen

make the planets warm.  She says, it makes Super

Earths - planets similar to Earth but up to 10 times

bigger - prime candidates for alien life.

MIT Research Conclusions

The MIT scientists have proven that life survives and

thrives in a hydrogen world.  Life could exist in

worlds whose atmospheres were previously thought

too harsh and hostile to sustain life.  And alien life

may be present on many more planets than scientists

thought.

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