Proxima Centauri often erupts with strong flares, so is its planet Proxima Centauri b still a habitable planet?

Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the sun, only 4.22 light-years away from the sun. Its surface temperature is much lower than that of the sun, and it is a typical red dwarf star.

In 2016, the European Astronomical Observatory announced the discovery of a planet from Proxima Centauri, named Proxima Centauri b. Proxima Centauri b has sunlight, water, and an atmosphere, so it is also considered an ideal planet for human immigration. one.

However, some subsequent observations showed that due to some characteristics of Proxima Centauri, Proxima Centauri b may not be suitable for human habitation at all. In 2017, the Array Radio Telescope in Chile observed that the brightness of Proxima Centauri suddenly increased by 1,000 times in 10 seconds, which means that it is 10 times more powerful than the most powerful solar flare. In that sense, the planet Proxima b will be sterilized by radiation.

In May 2019, astronomical scientists used nine astronomical observations including the Chile Array Radio Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Atacama Large Millimeter Wave Array and NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The instrument conducted an all-round, multi-wavelength detailed observation of Proxima Centauri. Five of the astronomical observation instruments observed a super flare erupting from Proxima Centauri.

In just 9 seconds, the brightness of Proxima Centauri suddenly increased by 14,000 times. Stellar flares only occur when changes in a star's magnetic field accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light. The accelerated electrons interact with the highly charged plasma that makes up most stars, causing eruptions that produce radiation throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.

The generation of such a strong Proxima Centauri flare caused the planet Proxima Centauri b to suffer a huge disaster. For example, if the sun erupts with such a powerful flare, all life on earth will be like bacteria under a disinfectant lamp, and all animals and plants will be wiped out.

Judging from the phenomena observed in these two observations, Proxima Centauri should often have strong flares. These flares will brutally destroy Proxima Centauri b and also make Proxima Centauri b habitable for people. Strong doubts about sex.

According to previous speculations by astronomers, although Proxima b is tidally locked by Proxima Centauri and the temperature will be higher on the front, there are some areas between the front (day) and the back (night) But the temperature is pleasant, almost the same as the environment on Earth, and it may be suitable for human habitation.

But if Proxima Centauri is such a bad-tempered star, the environment on Proxima Centauri b will be severely destroyed. Such strong flares occur frequently, and there is a thick atmosphere on Proxima Centauri b. It will also be "burned" by high-energy particles and ultraviolet rays. Without an atmosphere, the water on Proxima b cannot exist. It will soon vaporize and escape into space, and then life will not be able to survive.

Even if the atmosphere, water and other elements on Proxima Centauri still exist tenaciously, it is impossible for life to exist on Proxima Centauri. If the conditions are very suitable for the birth of life, it may only have just formed single-cell life. , were mercilessly eliminated as bacteria by Proxima Centauri's flares. According to the frequency of Proxima Centauri's flares, there was simply not enough time to form complex and intelligent life.

Based on the above analysis, Proxima b should no longer be a habitable planet.