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Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by db48x on Monday September 19, 2022 @09:31PM (#32906550)
Too bad about the even more expensive rocket launches. That stupid logarithm just won’t go away.
Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by umeshunni on Tuesday September 20, 2022 @12:20AM (#32907616)
It's possible the only way to do rockets in these worlds is through some kind of nuclear propulsion.
Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by db48x on Tuesday September 20, 2022 @03:04PM (#32916358)
Nuclear rockets are amazing in space, but a really bad idea in an atmosphere.
Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by bilsbie on Tuesday September 20, 2022 @01:21PM (#32914880)
They’d just need to go nuclear or keep their power source on the ground eg lasers or other beamed power, rail guns, sling systems, etc.

We choose rockets because they’re the lowest investment.

Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by chinabot on Monday September 19, 2022 @09:45PM (#32906647)
Higher Gravity would be pretty uncomfortable.
Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by andrewstuart on Monday September 19, 2022 @11:17PM (#32907257)
Strange no mention of gravity in that article.

I wonder the impact of higher gravity on trees/animals?

Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by rowinofwin on Tuesday September 20, 2022 @12:08AM (#32907548)
In a lot of cases as your planet size goes up the gravity doesn't go up as fast at the surface as you would expect. First off, sometimes the density is different, so you would have a similar sized but lighter planet. Other times it would just be the distance from the mass meaning that the mass on the opposite side of the planet has less effect than you would expect at the surface. If you add extra mass you also increase the radioactive decay potential which is part of our core being warm. More radioactive material, a longer time with a stronger magnetic field, less damage from solar radiation. And yes, the surface fluid being denser would provide more boyancy, so an aquatic species would have less of an issue from multiple times Earth gravity.

Pretty cool stuff.

Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by steve_adams_86 on Monday September 19, 2022 @11:59PM (#32907497)
Well, I suppose if they live in water it won’t necessarily matter as much. I can imagine vast oceans like ours filled with mostly-liquid creatures floating and flitting around.
Re:Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable t... by rasz on Tuesday September 20, 2022 @03:43AM (#32908843)
and they are all inhabited by Bronteroc