If some stars that are lightyears away are dead, does that mean the exoplanets we find are also dead?

Question

I get really excited over exoplanets that are Earth-like so I’m wondering how this works.

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

Not necessarily, if the exoplanet has the correct circumstances.

For example, there are organism here on Earth who live deep down in the ocean by geothermic vents, basically small underwater volcanoes.

If the planet in question has enough geothermic activity and water to sustain these kinds of conditions, then there’s the chance that the planet can sustain some form of life.

This is only purely speculative however, since we don’t really know exactly what is required for life to form and be sustained, but I’d say it’s not impossible to imagine a planet which can be self-sustaining to at least some extent, however unlikely.

Will it be very earth-like though? No, probably not.