Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'dont dig down'.
-
The process of induction heating - caused by metal being embedded in a strong electrical current or magnetic field - may have a huge effect on the geology of close-orbiting exoplanets around fast-rotating stars. The magnetic field of something like a tiny, young red dwarf can interact with a rocky planet and heat up the interior so much that subsurface lava oceans may be created. Think of a Europa from Hell. Depending on specific stellar and orbital parameters, the planet may either have a somewhat larger molten outer core or have a lava ocean thousands of kilometers thick. TRAPPIST-1c (Auxo) is likely to have the latter, making it a good example of why Minecraft's "don't dig down" rule is good to follow in real life. The other TRAPPIST planets are expected to have smaller magma oceans or, at the least, increased volcanism. Planets b (Theros), f (Irene), and g (Carphos) are likely more water-rich by mass and will be immune to this effect, while d (Thallo), e (Eiar), and h (Cheimon) likely have increased volcanic activity and maybe some underground pockets of lava. This could pose a threat to Thallo's habitability, but it may possibly turn Cheimon into an ocean world. https://phys.org/news/2017-10-formation-magma-oceans-exoplanet.html