The Concept of Life on Venus Informs the Concept of Habitability.
Astrobiology
; 24(6): 628-634, 2024 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38800952
ABSTRACT
An enduring question in astrobiology is how we assess extraterrestrial environments as being suitable for life. We suggest that the most reliable assessments of the habitability of extraterrestrial environments are made with respect to the empirically determined limits to known life. We discuss qualitatively distinct categories of habitability empirical habitability that is constrained by the observed limits to biological activity; habitability sensu stricto, which is defined with reference to the known or unknown limits to the activity of all known organisms; and habitability sensu lato (habitability in the broadest sense), which is circumscribed by the limit of all possible life in the universe, which is the most difficult (and perhaps impossible) to determine. We use the cloud deck of Venus, which is temperate but incompatible with known life, as an example to elaborate and hypothesize on these limits.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vênus
/
Exobiologia
/
Meio Ambiente Extraterreno
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Astrobiology
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido