The magnetic field is one of the factors that determine whether a planet is able to maintain its atmosphere for long periods of time; Mars, for example, once had a magnetic field, but lost it billions of years ago after its interior cooled, and now has a weak atmosphere and an uninhabitable environment.
“Despite the common misconception that magnetic fields directly determine whether a planet is habitable, they may play an important role in (knowing) how a planet has evolved over time,” said astronomer Bibiana Brenoth of the European Southern Observatory in , who co-authored the study.
She added: “Life as we know it depends on the presence of an atmosphere that helps maintain pressure on the surface (of the planet) and regulates temperature, and allows on Earth for liquid water to exist on the surface.
