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Metal-rich stars are less suitable for the evolution of life on their planets

Author

Listed:
  • Anna V. Shapiro

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

  • Christoph Brühl

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Klaus Klingmüller

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Benedikt Steil

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Alexander I. Shapiro

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

  • Veronika Witzke

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

  • Nadiia Kostogryz

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

  • Laurent Gizon

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
    Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
    New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Sami K. Solanki

    (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
    Kyung Hee University)

  • Jos Lelieveld

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    Climate and Atmosphere Research Center)

Abstract

Atmospheric ozone and oxygen protect the terrestrial biosphere against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Here, we model atmospheres of Earth-like planets hosted by stars with near-solar effective temperatures (5300 to 6300 K) and a broad range of metallicities covering known exoplanet host stars. We show that paradoxically, although metal-rich stars emit substantially less ultraviolet radiation than metal-poor stars, the surface of their planets is exposed to more intense ultraviolet radiation. For the stellar types considered, metallicity has a larger impact than stellar temperature. During the evolution of the universe, newly formed stars have progressively become more metal-rich, exposing organisms to increasingly intense ultraviolet radiation. Our findings imply that planets hosted by stars with low metallicity are the best targets to search for complex life on land.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna V. Shapiro & Christoph Brühl & Klaus Klingmüller & Benedikt Steil & Alexander I. Shapiro & Veronika Witzke & Nadiia Kostogryz & Laurent Gizon & Sami K. Solanki & Jos Lelieveld, 2023. "Metal-rich stars are less suitable for the evolution of life on their planets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37195-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37195-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alexander J. Krause & Benjamin J. W. Mills & Shuang Zhang & Noah J. Planavsky & Timothy M. Lenton & Simon W. Poulton, 2018. "Stepwise oxygenation of the Paleozoic atmosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Xiao-Ming Liu & Linda C. Kah & Andrew H. Knoll & Huan Cui & Chao Wang & Andrey Bekker & Robert M. Hazen, 2021. "A persistently low level of atmospheric oxygen in Earth’s middle age," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
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