The Evolution of Elliptical Galaxies Differs Significantly from the Milky Way. They undergo an early phase with such intense radiation that no habitable planet could survive. Therefore, the formation rate of the Sun and any new planet essentially becomes zero – this is the assertion of American astrophysicist Daniel Whitmire.
This assertion was presented in a paper published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on May 1, contrasting sharply with a 2015 study which claimed that giant elliptical galaxies are 10,000 times more likely than spiral galaxies to be suitable environments for planets with advanced civilizations.
Elliptical galaxies may be more capable of supporting life.
The authors of the 2015 study argued that elliptical galaxies are more capable of supporting life because they have more stars and a lower rate of destructive supernovae.
However, Whitmire, a retired astrophysics professor from the University of Arkansas, contended that the 2015 study contradicts a statistical rule known as the Principle of Mediocrity, or the Copernican Principle. According to this principle, in the absence of contrary evidence, an object or property of an object should be considered typical for its class rather than atypical.
Historically, this principle has been applied several times to predict new physical phenomena, such as when physicist Isaac Newton calculated the relative distance from Earth to Sirius by assuming that the Sun is a typical star and comparing the brightness of the two objects.
Whitmire stated: “The 2015 study has a major issue with the Principle of Mediocrity. In other words, why do we not perceive ourselves as living in a vast elliptical galaxy? To me, this is a dangerous alarm. Whenever you find yourself as an anomaly, i.e., atypical, that is the issue with the Principle of Mediocrity.” He also pointed out that most stars, and therefore most planets associated with those stars, reside in large elliptical galaxies to support his argument that the 2015 studies violated the Principle of Mediocrity.
According to the Principle of Mediocrity, Earth and its technological entities should be regarded as typical, not atypical, for planets with technological civilizations anywhere else in the universe. This means that Earth’s position in a spiral galaxy is also typical. However, the 2015 study asserts the opposite, claiming that most potentially habitable planets do not reside in galaxies similar to ours but in large, flat elliptical galaxies.
In his research, Whitmire proposed that one reason large elliptical galaxies may not be the cradle of life is: they are engulfed in destructive radiation when they are young and smaller, and they have undergone a series of supernova and hypernova explosions during that time.
According to the Principle of Mediocrity, if intelligent life-bearing planets cannot exist in large elliptical galaxies, which contain most stars and planets, then planets like the Milky Way will be the first places to host such civilizations.
