Solar Systems Like Ours Are Likely To Be Rare 394
KentuckyFC writes "Astronomers have discovered some 250 planetary systems beyond our own, many of them with curious properties. In particular, our theories of planet formation are challenged by 'hot Jupiters,' gas giants that orbit close to their parent stars. Current thinking is that gas giants can only form far away from stars because gas and dust simply gets blown away from the inner regions. Now astronomers have used computer simulations of the way planetary systems form to understand what is going on (abstract). It looks as if gas giants often form a long way from stars and then migrate inwards. That has implications for us: a migrating gas giant sweeps away all in its path, including rocky planets in the habitable zone. And that means that solar systems like ours are likely to be rare."
Well, that does it... (Score:5, Funny)
But... ?? (Score:3, Funny)
I know there are many solar systems with inhabitable planets in the galaxy and others, I know it!
I've seen the documentary on TV!
What was it called... hmm Stargate, yes, that's it!
And the Ancients seeded life over all of them, they said so in Stargate Atlantis!
I suppose they didn't watch TV enough to have missed such a proof.
is Jupiter's orbit stable... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Let's get this out of the way now: (Score:1, Funny)
That does not imply ours was created by a giant invisible bearded guy.
how do you know he's bearded if he's invisible?
Re:Well, that does it... (Score:5, Funny)
On the other hand, the rest of us wish you'd learn to spell "probability".
Re:first post (Score:5, Funny)
Nothing says "sanity" like a preemptive defense.
The planets may seek warmer climes in winter.. (Score:5, Funny)
Are you suggesting that Jupiters migrate?
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Incoming!
Re:first post (Score:4, Funny)
The Electric Universe theory contradicts Time Cube theory, and thus cannot be valid, as Time Cube theory encompasses everything.
Re:Rare? (Score:1, Funny)
Why didn't he fly?
Re:Rare? (Score:5, Funny)
Extensive computer simulation from basic principles. Not, "well, this theory more closely matches what we've recently observed, so it's more accurate".
Believe it or not, logical weaknesses that can be caught by the Slashdot crowd are almost always noticed by scientists. It's just that Slashdot doesn't read the articles.
Re:Well, that does it... (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe he should use a spell chequer!!
Re:Well, that does it... (Score:3, Funny)
this is naval gazing and conjecture, no more credible than Intelligent Design.
Hmm, I would quite expect that any naval endeavour would have some intelligent design behind it.
Re:Well, that does it... (Score:4, Funny)
# Watching the ships roll in
And I watch 'em roll away again
Sitting on the dock of the bay /#
Watching the tide roll away..
Re:Rare? (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, out of the billions of stars in our galaxy and out of the billions of galaxies in our universe, this still means there may be a bunch of other intelligent beings on other planets living sort of like we are right now, perhaps even communicating electronically and debating topics like this.
Yeah, but do they have Slashdot?!
Re:Rare? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Well, that does it... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Rare? (Score:2, Funny)
That guy was wrong anyway. I just drove from Phoenix to Dallas, and there were way more people leaving Dallas than going towards it... he must have counted wrong.