Unveiling Exocontinents: Tracing the Origins of Advanced Civilizations in the Universe

A new study by Jane Greaves, Professor of Astronomy at Cardiff University, suggests ways to search for potential Earth-like exoplanets that have had plate tectonics for longer than Earth, allowing for a longer timescale for the evolution of life and potential civilization advancement. While detecting plate tectonics on exoplanets has not yet been achieved, Greaves proposes looking at the chemical makeup of host stars to infer whether their exoplanets have the conditions for plate tectonics. By examining the stellar abundances of certain elements like thorium and potassium, researchers could potentially locate rocky exoplanets with continents and biospheres more advanced than Earth's.