Habitable from the start: How initial planetary formation conditions may create habitable worlds

TL;DR

This paper explores how initial planetary formation conditions influence the bulk chemistry and environmental factors that determine a planet's habitability, emphasizing the importance of early solar system processes.

Contribution

It highlights the role of early formation conditions in establishing planetary chemistry and habitability, proposing a focus on formation environments for astrobiological insights.

Findings

Planetary bulk chemistry affects habitability factors.

Early solar system environment influences planetary composition.

Formation conditions are key to understanding habitable worlds.

Abstract

The breadth of topics that encompass the search for life has expanded and evolved significantly since the emergence of the field of astrobiology. Initial astrobiology centered investigations focused on detecting biosignatures in the Martian soil with the Viking lander. The field now encompasses identification of biosignatures throughout the galaxy and habitable worlds, planets with sufficient liquid water and prebiotic chemistry to support life. This evolution mirrors the improvement in our understanding of environments that may harbor life. The bulk planetary chemistry governs the habitability of a planet, which is in turn set by the early solar system environment and planet formation processes. Therefore, investigations of solar and exoplanetary systems as a whole would provide insights into the factors that make a planet habitable. Bulk planetary chemistry govern planetary atmospheres, core sizes, magnetic fields, heat engines, volatile inventories, and silicate mantle compositions. We therefore advocate for investigations of formation conditions that establish planetary chemistry, and by extension, habitability.