The Sky Tonight

July 16, 2014

Friction from Tides Could Help Distant Earths Survive, and Thrive
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jul 16, 2014
As anybody who has started a campfire by rubbing sticks knows, friction generates heat. Now, computer modeling by NASA scientists shows that friction could be the key to survival for some distant Earth-sized planets traveling in dangerous orbits. The findings are consistent with observations that Earth-sized planets appear to be very common in other star systems. Although heat can be a destructive force for some planets, the right amount of friction, and therefore heat, can be helpful and perhaps ... read more

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