H2O & SPACE

Ever wonder how amazing it is that everything that is alive—from your cherished family members to your magnificent pets and trees—depends on water? It's like a secret sauce for life! In spite of the fact that the bodies of countless living things, including our own, are essentially a harmonious blend of diverse elements., water stands out as a fundamental building block.

Imagine our planet as a tiny spot in space. What makes it special? it's like a big, watery ball! Earth, our home, is covered with oceans, lakes, and rivers, emphasizing the ubiquity of water on our tiny cosmic island. And this isn't just luck. It's a cosmic plan that reaches far into space.

Picture going on a space adventure to find life on other planets. Where would you start? Here's a cool fact: all living things, no matter how different they seem, need water. It's like their special drink that keeps them going. Evidence of various forms of water has been discovered in many places in our solar system and is hypothesized to exist in many more. So, if we dream of finding life beyond Earth, we need to follow the water. It's like a cosmic treasure map leading us to the possibility of life in the vast universe.

But how does this water find its way from interstellar space to the comets and planets it is found on? This was one of the questions that Professor Michel Fich from the Faculty of Science of University of Waterloo, and his international colleagues set out to research, using observations from the Herschel Space Observatory.

They scrutinized infrared wavelengths over five years, revealing the secrets of water in space. The research, summarized in the paper "Water in star-forming regions: Physics and chemistry from clouds to disks as probed by?Herschel?spectroscopy. “ unveils the comprehensive role of water in star and planet formation.

Most of these water molecules are formed in dense molecular clouds between the starry regions of space, also known as star-forming regions. In these regions, dense molecular clouds are the primary source of water molecules. Hot water vapor escapes into space as these clouds collapse and form stars, leaving cool water molecules as liquid and ice. These icy dust crystals, which resemble tiny pebbles, are — critical components for building planets and solar systems around the newly formed stars.

Through this research, the international team has concluded that new planetary systems likely have enough water to become habitable – enough water to fill several thousand oceans!

Speaking of Oceans, In the vast cosmic expanse, beyond our blue planet, lies a category of celestial wonders known as "Ocean Worlds." These are not just places with water; they are worlds with vast, liquid oceans, hidden beneath icy exteriors or expansive atmospheres. Picture the intrigue surrounding moons like Europa (Jupiter) and Enceladus (Saturn), where vast, enigmatic oceans hide beneath frozen layers. These celestial bodies, once distant specks in our night sky, now capture scientists' imaginations, holding the potential to reveal life's secrets beyond our home planet.

Now, let's talk!

What do you think about the connection between water and life?

Have you ever wondered if there might be aliens out there, sipping on their own cosmic water?

Share your thoughts & Stay tuned for more about water and space coming your way soon!