The Young Sun Paradox

[Waspie_Dwarf]

How Did Early Earth Protect Itself Against The Cold?

Earth's Sun was a weakling when it was younger. Around three or four billion years ago, the star's energy was about 20 percent to 25 percent lower than what’s experienced today. If that was still true today, one would expect Earth would be an iceball, but the geologic record shows no evidence of a global ice age back then. What exactly kept the Earth warm during that time?

Bernard Marty is one of the researchers examining this so-called "young Sun paradox.” As a geochemical professor at Lorraine University in France, he is interested in learning what gases were present in the atmosphere – and in what abundances – that could have sheltered the Earth against the cold.

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