It is shown that W UMa-type and SX Phe-type stellar populations are both perfectly and uniquely suited for maintaining hyper-effective biopolymer chain reactions (BCR) on their planets once the planet is in the stellar habitable zone. W UMa-type stars are known to be contact binaries, and SX Phe-type stars are presumably post-binaries, i.e., products of stellar mergers. In case of the contact binaries, the eclipse-driven periodic heating/cooling of planetary surfaces has period-amplitude parameters that perfectly satisfy stringent conditions for maintaining BCR-like reactions. In case of the post-binaries, the stars pulsate with periods and amplitudes also perfectly suited for maintaining the reactions. Therefore, the 'W UMa - SX Phe' metamorphosis (from a contact binary to a post-binary, via the merger) seems to provide a potential biosystem reboot on planets in these systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)500 - 504
JournalInternational Journal of Astrobiology
Volume19
Issue number6
Early online date6 Oct 2020
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

    Research areas

  • Circumbinary planets, contact-binary stars, polymerase chain reaction, SX Phe-type stars, tidal chain reaction, W UMa-type stars

    Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)

ID: 70634141