Planet Simulator

{{short description|Machine designed to study life in the universe}}

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The Planet Simulator, also known as a Planetary Simulator, is a climate-controlled simulation chamber designed to aid in the study of the origin of life. The device was announced by researchers at McMaster University on behalf of the Origins Institute on 4 October 2018.{{cite news |last=Balch |first=Erica |title=Ground-breaking lab poised to unlock the mystery of the origins of life on Earth and beyond |url=https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/ground-breaking-lab-poised-to-unlock-the-mystery-of-the-origins-of-life-on-earth-and-beyond/ |date=4 October 2018 |work=McMaster University |accessdate=4 October 2018 }}{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Ground-breaking lab poised to unlock the mystery of the origins of life |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/mu-glp100418.php |date=4 October 2018 |work=EurekAlert! |accessdate=14 October 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Liam |title=McMaster University researchers testing origins of life theory in new planet simulator |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4516282/mcmaster-researchers-planet-simulator/ |date=4 October 2018 |work=Global News |accessdate=14 October 2018 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Planet Simulator |url=https://www.intravisiongroup.com/planet-simulator |date=2018 |work=IntraVisionGroup.com |accessdate=14 October 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Chung |first=Emily |title=Canadian researchers use new 'planet simulator' to probe origins of life - 'Life is probably a relatively frequent process in the universe' new experiments suggests |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/origins-of-life-lab-1.4852248 |date=5 October 2018 |work=CBC News |accessdate=14 October 2018 }} The project began in 2012 and was funded with $1 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario government, and McMaster University. It was built and manufactured by [https://angstromengineering.com/ Angstrom Engineering Inc] of Kitchener, Ontario.

The device was designed and developed by biophysicist Maikel Rheinstadter and co-principal investigators biochemist Yingfu Li and astrophysicist Ralph Pudritz for researchers to study a theory that suggests life on early Earth began in "warm little ponds" rather than in deep ocean vents nearly four billion years ago. The device can recreate conditions of the primitive Earth to see whether cellular life can be created, and then later, evolve.

The Planet Simulator can mimic the environmental conditions consistent on the early Earth and other astronomical bodies, including other planets and exoplanets by controlling temperature, humidity, pressure, atmosphere and radiation levels within the simulation chamber.