- 2 hours ago
This video showcases two unique perspectives on the fascinating world of planets in our solar system.
Category
🎈
FunTranscript
00:00Have you ever wondered what it would be like if every planet in our solar system was the size of
00:06Earth?
00:06Well, it's time to dive into this mind-boggling scenario.
00:10Let's imagine what each planet would look like if they were as big as our beloved blue planet.
00:16Would the barren red landscape of Mars suddenly become a lush green oasis?
00:22Would the massive swirling gas giant Jupiter just disappear?
00:26And how would it affect our solar system as a whole?
00:29Are we all doomed? Buckle up and let's find out!
00:33The first planet on our list is Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system.
00:39But now, forget about the moon-like Mercury.
00:42Instead, picture yourself on the surface of a superdynamic incandescent inferno.
00:48There are a lot of craters and active volcanoes around you.
00:52And right in front of you is a huge, blinding bright sun.
00:55What a nightmare!
00:56But let's break these changes down.
00:59Well, along with the size of Mercury, both its mass and gravity would increase.
01:05In that case, it's possible that Mercury would have more atmosphere.
01:10Temperatures on Mercury are extreme.
01:12Not only because it's very close to the Sun, but also because of its very thin atmosphere.
01:17So, during the day, the temperatures there reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:22And at night, it becomes terrifyingly cold, down to negative 290 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:29But now, when the gravity is stronger, Mercury could have a denser atmosphere, so the heat would be better distributed
01:37across the planet.
01:38And the atmosphere isn't the only thing that could make it hotter.
01:42If Mercury became bigger, it would likely experience increased internal heating due to gravitational compression.
01:50And hypothetically, its tectonic activity could increase.
01:54In other words, more interesting landscape, more mountains, and more scary active volcanoes.
02:00Congratulations, you've turned Mercury into Venus 2.0.
02:04For us, all these changes wouldn't be very pleasant.
02:08Now, it would become much harder to send our spacecraft there.
02:11So, it's better for Mercury to stay as it is.
02:14Small, calm, and boring.
02:18Basically, the complete opposite of our next planet, Venus.
02:22So, what would happen to Venus if it was Earth-sized?
02:26Actually, nothing.
02:27It wouldn't change at all.
02:29All because Venus is already almost the size of Earth.
02:32It's even called the Earth's twin.
02:34Although, twin is a big word, of course.
02:37In reality, we couldn't be more different.
02:41Venus is often called the Morning Star because it's so bright and visible in the sky.
02:46But don't let its beauty fool you.
02:48This planet is one of the most inhospitable places in our solar system.
02:53Its surface is hotter than a freshly baked pizza, around 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
02:58And it's covered in thick clouds of sulfuric acid that would dissolve any human who tried to visit.
03:04So, unfortunately, you won't be planning any trips there anytime soon.
03:09So, let's move on to a planet that, unlike Venus, could potentially become a new home for us.
03:15Mars.
03:16Picture yourself standing on Mars' surface, watching the blue sunset, and breathing in a refreshing breeze of air.
03:23Yes, you read that right.
03:25Air.
03:26Moreover, you could be surrounded by plants, animals, and basically feel like you're on Earth.
03:32But how is that possible?
03:34Bigger Mars would have a stronger magnetic field and gravity.
03:38This would lead to a richer and denser atmosphere.
03:41It would likely have a wider range of gases, including oxygen.
03:46Wouldn't that be cool?
03:48Also, a denser atmosphere could distribute heat across the planet, so Mars would become much warmer and cozier.
03:55And here comes the most important change.
03:58Liquid water.
03:59Mars actually has some frozen water at its poles and in subsurface reservoirs.
04:04But, with a stronger gravitational pull, it could potentially stabilize liquid water on its surface.
04:11Hooray!
04:12However, it's not all fun and games.
04:15New Mars would also have a volcanic personality.
04:18It's already geologically active, but now, its internal heat and pressure would skyrocket.
04:24That means more frequent and more crazy volcanic eruptions.
04:28Imagine how exciting it would be to witness such eruptions on another planet, if you manage to escape the consequences.
04:36In general, the planet could become greener and lusher, but not safer.
04:41Although, it would still be great to see it.
04:44But, it's time to move on to the giants of our solar system.
04:48And if we're enlarging the planets before, now it's time to squeeze them really, really hard.
04:55If Jupiter became 11 times smaller, oh boy, what a disaster that would be.
05:00The first thing we'd notice is a change in gravity.
05:03And I say we'd notice, because now we'd have no choice but to move somewhere.
05:08Jupiter experiences from 30 to 100 collisions with large asteroids per year.
05:14No big deal.
05:15All because of its strongest gravity, which attracts them all and protects us.
05:20But now our big protective brother has turned into a small baby.
05:25Say hi to a bunch of asteroids.
05:27Oh, and say bye-bye to Jupiter.
05:30This planet is known for its thick, swirling atmosphere.
05:33But with a weaker gravitational pull, Jupiter would probably have a hard time holding on to it.
05:39So, over time, it would slowly escape into space.
05:42Leaving behind a thin atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
05:48We'll also have to bid farewell to the iconic appearance of another giant.
05:53Saturn.
05:54The most noticeable difference would be the disappearance of its famous rings.
05:59Made up of small particles of ice and rock, the rings are a unique feature of Saturn.
06:04But with Earth's gravity, they would either fall onto the planet or scatter into space.
06:11Bummer.
06:12Saturn is also a gas giant, just like Jupiter.
06:15Its atmosphere is made up of mostly hydrogen and helium.
06:19But if it were Earth-sized, its gases would be compressed due to the increased gravity.
06:24This would make it much denser.
06:27That means, Saturn's overall size and shape would change.
06:31Theoretically, if we squeeze Saturn hard, it could potentially become a brown dwarf.
06:37It's a type of failed star that lacks the mass to sustain nuclear fusion, but emits heat and light.
06:44So, Saturn could stop being a planet altogether.
06:47The weather on it would probably have changed too.
06:51All its crazy storms, such as the famous hexagonal storm at its north pole, would have become weaker and calmer.
06:59The next giant is Uranus.
07:01Let's try to compress this poor fella.
07:04First off, the surface gravity on Uranus would be much weaker than it is now.
07:09Its atmosphere might also change.
07:11If Uranus was smaller, it could have a thinner atmosphere and different gases altogether.
07:17This planet is pretty chilly, with an average temperature of negative 353 degrees Fahrenheit.
07:25But if it was the size of Earth, it might actually warm up a bit, due to its reduced volume
07:30-to-surface area ratio.
07:32Don't get too excited, though.
07:34It would still be way colder than the coldest spots on Earth.
07:37As you can see, gas giants don't easily go through all this shrinking, except perhaps one of them.
07:45Surprisingly, small Neptune would become much friendlier.
07:48For starters, it would probably be a rocky planet with a tiny atmosphere.
07:52That means no more gas giant, but instead, a planet that's easier for humans and critters alike to live and
07:59move around on.
08:00Speaking of movement, because of the smaller size, the gravity on this new Neptune would be almost the same as
08:06Earth's,
08:07making it a heck of a lot easier to walk and jump around.
08:10No more floating away into space.
08:13Now, the atmosphere of the original Neptune is so thick, you could barely see your hand in front of your
08:19face.
08:19And the surface pressure is about 100 times that of Earth's atmosphere.
08:24But our new Neptune would be much different, with a much thinner and less dense atmosphere.
08:29It would still have some methane, water, and ammonia in it, but nowhere near as much as before.
08:35Finally, the temperature.
08:37Bleh!
08:38The current Neptune is freezing, with an average temperature of about negative 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
08:45But if it was the same size as Earth, it would likely be much warmer, just like Uranus.
08:51Ah, that's more like it.
08:52What a planet that would be.
08:55That's it for the changes in the planets.
08:57But what would happen to the entire solar system if we made all the planets so small?
09:02It's hard to predict, but it's clear that their gravity and orbits could change a lot.
09:07It's unlikely that any of them would have flown into outer space, or crashed into each other, or something like
09:12that.
09:13But many of their orbits would probably become quite unstable.
09:17And the number of collisions with asteroids would have increased significantly.
09:21Of course all this is purely speculation, it's not like we can actually test all this.
09:26But it's still a pretty interesting thought experiment, and it makes you appreciate just how unique and special our solar
09:33system really is.
09:34As scientists continue to explore the vast expanse of the universe, they've made some incredible discoveries that have left them
09:42with more questions and answers.
09:44From a scorching super-Earth to a football-shaped world, the exoplanet discoveries of 2022 are truly out of this
09:52world.
09:53So, hold on tight, the future of exoplanet discoveries is looking brighter than ever.
09:58Number 1. New type of exoplanets
10:01Red dwarfs make up over 70% of all stars in space.
10:05So, in September of 2022, scientists decided to take a closer look at the small worlds orbiting them.
10:13What they found was amazing.
10:15New type of exoplanets that were made of half rock and half water, either in liquid or ice form.
10:21The researchers suggested that these planets likely arose from icy material and were born far away from their stars, past
10:30the ice line, where surface temperatures are freezing.
10:33But they later migrated closer in, to where the astronomers detected them.
10:38This discovery could have huge implications in the search for life in the cosmos.
10:42Though these planets are loaded with water, they might not be covered in oceans.
10:47Who knows? Maybe one of them will be the next Earth 2.0.
10:52Number 2. Jupiter-sized world
10:54Imagine a planet so massive and mysterious, it's like a hidden Jupiter in our galaxy.
11:00Well, we just discovered one of those orbiting a star just 379 light-years away.
11:07Just.
11:08We've named it the TOI 2180b, and it's got everyone talking.
11:13Why?
11:14Well, for starters, this planet takes a whopping 261 days to orbit its star, which is much longer than most
11:21distant gas giants we've come across so far.
11:24But that's not all.
11:25The temperature on this world is surprisingly mild, averaging at a balmy 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
11:32For a comparison, the temperature on Jupiter and Saturn is around minus 280 degrees.
11:37It's like a bridge between the giant exoplanets we've found and our Jupiter.
11:42But the question remains, how did this planet get to be so different?
11:47Scientists are still trying to figure that out.
11:50Let's hope that we get some answers soon.
11:52Number 3.
11:53The Hulk Planet
11:54This world is a place where the surface is covered in molten magma, and the year lasts just half a
12:01day.
12:01Welcome to TOI 1075b, an exoplanet that's been dubbed the planet Hulk by scientists.
12:09Located 200 light-years away, this super-Earth is one of the most massive ever discovered.
12:15Its proximity to its parent's dark causes its surface to reach scorching temperatures of 1922 degrees.
12:22It's so hot that any form of water would evaporate instantly, and the air would be filled with vaporized rock.
12:30But it's not just the heat that's impressive, it's also its size.
12:34TOI 1075b is nearly 10 times the mass of Earth, making it one of the most massive super-Earths ever
12:41discovered.
12:43But the mystery doesn't stop there.
12:45The planet's orbit takes just 14 and a half hours, making it one of the shortest orbital periods ever recorded
12:52for a planet of its size.
12:53What an exciting addition to our catalogue!
12:57Number 4.
12:58Three doomed planets
13:00Astronomers made a shocking discovery of three planets that are circling in a dangerous dance next to the slowly fading
13:07stars.
13:08Just a decade ago, scientists never even imagined such planets could exist.
13:13These gas giant planets, similar in size to Jupiter, orbit way too close to their slowly fading stars.
13:20They're basically walking on the edge.
13:23Take one of them, for example, dubbed TOI 2337b.
13:27Its orbit will likely send it hurtling straight into the fiery arms of its host star in less than a
13:33million years.
13:34Well, I won't be around then.
13:36As these stars enter their final days, they're pulling in nearby planets like a black hole, altering their orbits and
13:44potentially causing catastrophic collisions.
13:46And as these planets get closer to their stars, their atmospheres heat up and swell, leading to some mind-boggling
13:54differences in density.
13:55But despite the doom and gloom, studying these worlds could give us valuable insights into the evolution of our own
14:02solar system.
14:03Number 5. Planet with a barium's atmosphere
14:07These are two hot, blazing planets, each with an atmosphere made of the heaviest element ever found in an exoplanet,
14:15barium.
14:15These planets, known as WASP-76b and WASP-121b, are ultra-hot gas giants called super-Jupiters that orbit incredibly
14:26close to their stars.
14:27These planets are basically like giant balls of fire, with one side facing the star, cooking at temperatures hot enough
14:34to vaporize iron and other metals.
14:36But as the hot iron vapor is blown into the planet's cooler night side, it turns into liquid and falls
14:43as iron rain.
14:45And these planets held a special surprise for us.
14:48Barium is a heavy metal, about two and a half times as heavy as iron.
14:52And yet, scientists were able to detect it in the upper layers of these planets' atmospheres.
14:57This is truly a mystery, and a puzzle we're still trying to solve.
15:02Imagine landing on a planet like this, and looking at this rain of iron and the heavy barium in its
15:08skies.
15:09That would be awesomely horrifying.
15:12Number 6. The Football Planet
15:14Get ready to have your mind blown, space enthusiasts, because we've just discovered the ultimate football-shaped planet.
15:21And it's unlike anything we've ever seen before.
15:25Meet WASP-103b, the ultra-hot exoplanet that's more than a thousand light-years away from Earth.
15:32This gas giant is so close to its parent star that its shape is being stretched by the intense gravitational
15:38forces.
15:39But this isn't just a fun shapeshifter.
15:42It's also a valuable scientific discovery.
15:45By studying the planet's passes across its star, we were able to measure its deformation for the first time ever.
15:52It's like taking a snapshot of a planet in motion, and it's giving us insights into the extreme conditions that
15:59these planets can endure.
16:00This is truly a great discovery.
16:03Number 7. A Zodiacal Light
16:05Are you ready for a cosmic ghost story?
16:08Scientists and high school students in China have uncovered a spooky phenomenon on three distant exoplanets.
16:16It's called zodiacal light, a glow that's similar to the one seen here on Earth during sunset.
16:22But this isn't just some eerie light show.
16:25It could hold clues about the makeup of these potentially habitable worlds.
16:29Imagine watching the sunset from a dark spot on Earth.
16:33And instead of darkness, a triangle of light appears.
16:36That's zodiacal light.
16:38It's caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles that fill the solar system, the remains of asteroids and comets.
16:45A team of researchers analyzed 47 potential habitable exoplanets named Kepler-69c, Kepler-1229b, and Kepler-395c, all super-Earths,
16:58had signs of this light.
16:59This discovery is more than just a spooky phenomenon.
17:02It could reveal information about the presence of asteroids and comets in these exoplanet systems, which could be difficult to
17:10detect otherwise.
17:11So that's pretty neat.
17:14Number 8. A Planet with Silicate Clouds
17:17Introducing VHS-1259b, not a home video recording system, but a strange and exotic world shrouded in mystery and wonder.
17:27A place where the clouds are made of sand and the sky is forever red.
17:32This isn't the stuff of science fiction, but a real-life discovery made by the brilliant minds at NASA.
17:38This is a brown dwarf exoplanet that's making waves in the astronomical community.
17:43It's way too massive for a planet, nearly 20 times the size of Jupiter, but it's not quite a star.
17:50It's something in between, a cosmic enigma that defies definition.
17:54But what's really crazy about VHS-1256b is its atmosphere.
18:00Scientists have discovered that this strange world is cloaked in thick clouds of silicate grains, similar to sand.
18:08It's the first time this kind of cloud has ever been detected on an exoplanet.
18:12And it's a discovery that's sure to change the way we think about the universe and the possibilities of life
18:19beyond our world.
18:20And there you have it, folks.
18:22The year 2022 was filled with incredible discoveries and groundbreaking findings in the world of exoplanets.
18:29But this is just the beginning, as scientists and researchers continue to explore the vast expanse of space.
18:36We can only imagine what other wonders await us.
18:39So, let's keep looking.
18:41Who knows what secrets the stars hold for us next?
Comments