Scientists may have explained the solar system's 'Great Divide'

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Published on January 16, 2020 - Duration: 01:16s

Scientists may have explained the solar system's 'Great Divide'

A separation known as the Great Divide splits the rocky planets and the gas planets in our solar system.


Scientists may have explained the solar system's 'Great Divide'

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN A separation known as the Great Divide splits the rocky planets and the gas planets in our solar system.

According to the latest paper published in Nature Astronomy, researchers can now explain how the divide came to exist.

Citing the researchers, University of Colorado's news release says that rocky planets in the sunward side of the divide are poor in carbon and other organic materials.

The opposite is true for the gas planets beyond the divide, such as Jupiter, which is rich in carbon.

The paper theorizes that billions of years ago, the sun may have once had a massive ring structure with alternating high and low pressure bands.

Those bands would separate matter into distinct sinks, one forming Jupiter and Saturn, and another Earth and Mars.

This results in the Great Divide.

A paper co-author says that the pressure barrier was not impenetrable, as enough materials from outer space have likely crossed over.

The carbon rich material that had climbed the divide would then play a role in the evolution of life on Earth.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

The Great Divide of the solar system 2.

The divide separates carbon rich gas giants and carbon poor rocky planets 3.

The sun's former ring might explain the Great Divide 4.

The barrier did not prevent carbon from sparking life on Earth VOICEOVER (in English): "A separation known as the Great Divide splits the rocky planets and the gas planets in our solar system." "According to the latest paper published in Nature Astronomy, researchers can now explain how the divide came to exist." "Citing the researchers, University of Colorado's news release says that rocky planets in the sunward side of the divide are poor in carbon and other organic materials." "The opposite is true for the gas planets beyond the divide, such as Jupiter, which is rich in carbon." "The paper theorizes that billions of years ago, the sun may have once had a massive ring structure with alternating high and low pressure bands." "Those bands would separate matter into distinct sinks, one forming Jupiter and Saturn, and another Earth and Mars.

This results in the Great Divide." "A paper co-author says that the pressure barrier was not impenetrable, as enough materials from outer space have likely crossed over." "The carbon rich material that had climbed the divide would then play a role in the evolution of life on Earth." SOURCES: Nature Astronomy, Phys.org https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-019-0978-6.epdf?referrer_access_token=9jVpZHBPolSPYWM30r6FQdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PBIOCxBoOcUlo7-fpDWw4Fu-FbU48pXYBVt9oVWtJf8dJjKaAcZbiY8Sv389m-MLGgv0-RGsG3OpksPbFSDtlx2beBsc4uRaEAzqEfVMt3J7M8WB87OgAYCo80Ha5U1pifbrrHgL-JOWe-_N7EYbYFkJdA78SZzTgNU43IpupHVys_rskhBe7gbZ9ZttfcuXulTlW__1XRbjwo7v8HXIIWCBBqydlfUJUgG4yJ7ST0ll-eolCtTZmDwPvqH0T4bApQXXnCd90gZcO3Qtj7BnLPj-zqUgjMC1n6PXAy8LOPVA%3D%3D&tracking_referrer=www.dailymail.co.uk https://phys.org/news/2020-01-solar-great-life-earth.html *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377

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