Earth is not the smallest planet in the solar system, but it is smaller than most. Have you ever wondered why? In a study published in Nature Astronomy, it was discovered why the Earth did not grow any more than it does now.
There are many systems similar to our Solar System in the Milky Way Galaxy. Among them are the so-called “Earth-like” planets. At the center of these planets is a core just like the Earth, that is, just like our Earth, which grew out of the Sun. But these planets have one difference, they are much larger than Earth. In other words, they are in a kind of ‘Super-Earth’ position. So why isn’t the Earth that big?
The Sun is the reason why the Earth cannot expand any further
In research with a new supercomputer, it was discovered that the Sun used to have rings of gas and dust, just like Saturn. “There was an event in the Solar System that prevented the Earth from becoming so massive, like the earth planet called ‘Super-Earth,'” says Andre Izidoro, astrophysicist at Rice University. So why are there no Super-Earths in our Solar System?
Izidoro answers this question: “We think that the pressure pulses produce independent planetary ring materials in the inner and outer Solar System and determine how large the planets will grow in the Inner Solar System. ”
If you ask what this explanation means, let’s explain it right away. The researchers state that the materials created by these pressure pulses, which are known to exist around different stars, have an effect on the formation of planets, and therefore the pressure pulses around the Sun also affect the size of the planets around the star.
If you’re asking how this happens, let’s explain it. Researchers think the pressure pulses keep the protoplanetary disk around the Sun from being smooth, which is what allows dust grains and rocks to form into planets. If the rings were smooth, then these particles would be easily pulled inward and consumed by the Sun, and planets would not form.
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