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Abiotic Oxygen Buildup: Biosignature False Positive

Interactive 2D model of abiotic O2 buildup on planets orbiting active M dwarfs: adjust stellar UV flux, star type and planetary gravity and watch the coupled photolysis + mass-dependent Jeans-escape equations decide, atom by atom, whether hydrogen escapes and oxygen accumulates.

Space & Astronomy2DAdvanced60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

Around active M dwarfs, intense UV radiation photolyses water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen high in a planet's atmosphere. The light hydrogen escapes to space while the heavier oxygen can be left behind and accumulate into a thick, life-free O2 atmosphere — a genuine astrophysical mechanism that can mimic a photosynthesis biosignature. This 2D cross-section simulator computes the real physics behind that process frame by frame: a UV-driven photolysis rate and independent, mass-dependent Jeans thermal-escape efficiencies for hydrogen and oxygen, coupled through the actual water/H/O2 mass balance. Adjust the star type, UV flux and planetary gravity, then watch the live H/O2 inventory plot to see when — and how much — abiotic O2 accumulates.

⚙ Under the hood

Simulate XUV-driven photolysis of water on a planet orbiting an active M dwarf: hydrogen escapes to space while oxygen may be left behind and accumulate into a life-free O2 atmosphere that mimics a biosignature.

exoplanetsbiosignaturesatmospheric-escapeastrobiologyM-dwarfsphotolysis

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install