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The Planet Simulator, also known as a Planetary Simulator, is a climate-controlled simulation chamber designed to aid in the study of the origin of life. The device was announced by researchers at McMaster University on behalf of the Origins Institute on 4 October 2018.[1][2][3][4][5] The project began in 2012 and was funded with $1 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario government, and McMaster University. It was built and manufactured by Angstrom Engineering Inc of Kitchener, Ontario.[1][5]
The device was designed and developed by biophysicist Maikel Rheinstadter and co-principal investigators biochemist Yingfu Li and astrophysicist Ralph Pudritz for researchers to study a theory that suggests life on early Earth began in "warm little ponds" rather than in deep ocean vents nearly four billion years ago.[3] The device can recreate conditions of the primitive Earth to see whether cellular life can be created, and then later, evolve.[3]
The Planet Simulator can mimic the environmental conditions consistent on the early Earth and other astronomical bodies, including other planets and exoplanets[3] by controlling temperature, humidity, pressure, atmosphere and radiation levels within the simulation chamber.[2]
References
- ^ a b Balch, Erica (4 October 2018). "Ground-breaking lab poised to unlock the mystery of the origins of life on Earth and beyond". McMaster University. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ a b Staff (4 October 2018). "Ground-breaking lab poised to unlock the mystery of the origins of life". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d Casey, Liam (4 October 2018). "McMaster University researchers testing origins of life theory in new planet simulator". Global News. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ Staff (2018). "Planet Simulator". IntraVisionGroup.com. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ a b Chung, Emily (5 October 2018). "Canadian researchers use new 'planet simulator' to probe origins of life - 'Life is probably a relatively frequent process in the universe' new experiments suggests". CBC News. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
