Planet Simulator

The Planet Simulator, also known as a Planetary Simulator, is a <a href="/facts/Climate/f57XrNFU">climate</a>-controlled <a href="/facts/Simulation/Q4QJV1oI">simulation</a> chamber designed to aid in the study of the <a href="/facts/Abiogenesis/BvAmLPQP">origin of life</a>. The device was announced by researchers at <a href="/facts/McMaster_University/XmAxtS9z">McMaster University</a> on behalf of the <a href="/facts/Origins_Institute/pR8qQFKV">Origins Institute</a> on 4 October 2018. The project began in 2012 and was funded with $1 million from the <a href="/facts/Canada_Foundation_for_Innovation/x1f64JIN">Canada Foundation for Innovation</a>, the <a href="/facts/Ontario_government/xmhw4mcu">Ontario government</a>, and <a href="/facts/McMaster_University/XmAxtS9z">McMaster University</a>. It was built and manufactured by <a href="https://angstromengineering.com/">Angstrom Engineering Inc</a> of <a href="/facts/Kitchener,_Ontario/fVm8rhy1">Kitchener, Ontario</a>.
The device was designed and developed by <a href="/facts/Biophysics/l9u5gqCy">biophysicist</a> Maikel Rheinstadter and co-principal investigators <a href="/facts/Biochemist/gAWNAY5v">biochemist</a> Yingfu Li and <a href="/facts/Astrophysics/krFPRWLA">astrophysicist</a> <a href="/facts/Ralph_Pudritz/wx6WHffE">Ralph Pudritz</a> for researchers to study a theory that suggests <a href="/facts/Evolutionary_history_of_life/Ss6eB0EX">life on early Earth</a> began in "<a href="/facts/Primordial_soup/G3jUFl1U">warm little ponds</a>" rather than in <a href="/facts/Hydrothermal_vent/0xPqNUkY">deep ocean vents</a> nearly four billion years ago. The device can recreate conditions of the <a href="/facts/Early_Earth/e0nCkeqE">primitive Earth</a> to see whether <a href="/facts/Cellular_life/bLM9UQvy">cellular life</a> can be created, and then later, <a href="/facts/Evolution/Hj0qAaBk">evolve</a>.
The Planet Simulator can mimic the environmental conditions consistent on the early Earth and other astronomical bodies, including other <a href="/facts/Planet/rbPjE6Bx">planets</a> and <a href="/facts/Exoplanet/zjfmqfUf">exoplanets</a> by controlling <a href="/facts/Temperature/QyGe4gmj">temperature</a>, <a href="/facts/Humidity/Nwb28VlT">humidity</a>, <a href="/facts/Pressure/eyc37GRG">pressure</a>, <a href="/facts/Atmosphere/oUpLaGRF">atmosphere</a> and <a href="/facts/Radiation_levels/vw0d9GaT">radiation levels</a> within the simulation chamber.

Planet Simulator open-in-new

Planet Simulator