The Goldilocks Theory

Image from: NASA

Just as Goldilocks found the porridge that was just right, the Earth seems to be just right for conditions favorable to life. The reasons have to do with the fact that the Earth seems to be the perfect distance from the sun for abundant liquid water.

Venus is too close to the sun, and too hot for liquid water on its surface. In fact, it is so hot that the volatiles have all been driven into the atmosphere, so it has a thick and heavy atmosphere. Heat bakes the water out of the ground and prevents the special kind of hydrated minerals which allow for plate tectonics.

Mars is too far from the sun, and too cold for abundant liquid water on its surface. With no liquid water, the special kind of hydrated minerals which allow for plate tectonics are prevented from forming, and so atmospheric gases which become trapped within the ground stay trapped within the ground and are not recycled back to the atmosphere by way of volcanism. Thus over time Mars has developed a thin atmosphere, and all the water is frozen into the ground.

The temperature of Earth is just right for liquid water on the surface, and for the hydrated minerals which produce plate tectonics. With plate tectonics, atmospheric gases which become trapped within the ground are recycled back to the atmosphere in the form of volcanic emissions. These conditions favor repeated replenishment of the planet's atmosphere, which helps to maintain, via the greenhouse effect, surface temperatures just right for liquid water. These conditions are just right for abundant life

Image from: NASA

Just as Goldilocks found the porridge that was just right, the Earth seems to be just right for living creatures. The Earth seems to be the perfect distance from the sun for lots of water.

Venus is too close to the sun, and too hot for flowing water on its surface. In fact, it is so hot that, like a sauna, all the water has been evaporated into the atmosphere, and Venus has a thick and heavy atmosphere.

Mars is too far from the sun, and too cold for flowing water on its surface. Mars also has no continental drift, so particles of the atmosphere which become trapped within the ground stay trapped within the ground. Thus over time the atmosphere of Mars has become thin, and all the water is frozen into the ground.

The temperature of Earth is just right for flowing water on the surface, and for the rock which allows for continental drift. With continental drift, particles of the atmosphere which become trapped within the ground are brought back to the atmosphere through eruptions of volcanoes. These conditions cause refreshment of the planet's atmosphere. A medium sized atmosphere helps keep temperatures just right for flowing water (through the greenhouse effect). These conditions are just right for abundant life

Image from: NASA

Just as Goldilocks found the porridge that was just right, the Earth seems to be just right for living creatures. The Earth seems to be the perfect distance from the sun for lots of water.

Venus is too close to the sun, and too hot for flowing water on its surface. In fact, it is so hot that, like a sauna, all the water has been evaporated into the atmosphere, and Venus has a thick and heavy atmosphere.

Mars is too far from the sun, and too cold for flowing water on its surface. Mars also has no continental drift, so particles of the atmosphere which become trapped within the ground stay trapped within the ground. Thus over time the atmosphere of Mars has become thin, and all the water is frozen into the ground.

The temperature of Earth is just right for flowing water on the surface, and for the rock which allows for continental drift. With continental drift, particles of the atmosphere which become trapped within the ground are brought back to the atmosphere through eruptions of volcanoes. These conditions cause refreshment of the planet's atmosphere and help keep the temperature just right. These conditions are just right for abundant life.