Climate Change for Aliens: New Classification System (IMAGE)

University of Rochester

Climate Change for Aliens: New Classification System

Caption

Adam Frank's new system classifies planets based on their ability to generate free energy. This system is composed of five levels, from a Class I planet (far left) that does not have an atmosphere to a Class V planet (far right) where an energy-intensive species establishes a sustainable version of the biosphere. In this system, Earth is between a Class IV and Class V.

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University illustration / Michael Osadciw

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