Despite how far away it is from us, Jupiter is a planet the key to the survival of human life on Earth, because it is considered by experts to be a huge shield that prevents the arrival of numerous asteroids and meteorites on our planet. This is possible thanks to its intense gravitational field, and we must not forget that we are talking about a giant that is more like a failed star than a planet.

But that’s not the only way Jupiter affects our planet. Its orbit around the Sun also affects life on Earth as we know it.s, a reality that has led many experts and scientists to consider that even the slightest change in it can seriously damage the delicate balance that, as we know, allows complex life to exist on Earth.

It’s a topic that’s certainly been talked about a lot, but it’s also very strange that it’s been called into question recently. According to a report published in the Astronomical Journal by a group of scientists from the University of California, there has been a slight change in Jupiter’s orbit may be “good for Earth’s habitability”, provided that one condition is met, namely that this change would have to be small and affect the eccentricity of the gas giant’s orbit, i.e. make it more oval.

If this were to occur, Earth’s orbit could be affected by Jupiter’s and our planet would eventually orbit a bit closer to the Sunsomething that, according to this group of scientists, would cause significant melting in certain areas of the Earth that are currently uninhabitable due to the extreme cold that prevails in those areas, and which have also not been the subject of in-depth research.

In fact, this means that these areas they would become habitablebut also that sea ​​level would rise and it goes without saying that this could have disastrous consequences in certain areas of the earth, which could be flooded and eventually become uninhabitable.

One made of lime and one made of sand, but anyway, the most interesting thing about this report is that even a small change in Jupiter’s orbit could completely change life on Earth, and this would also affect exoplanets located in the spheres of influence of other gas giants.

Cover image: NASA.