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.[1][2][3][4][5] 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 Angstrom Engineering Inc of Kitchener, Ontario.[1][5]
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.[3] The device can recreate conditions of the primitive Earth to see whether cellular life can be created, and then later, evolve.[3]
The Planet Simulator can mimic the environmental conditions consistent on the early Earth and other astronomical bodies, including other planets and exoplanets[3] by controlling temperature, humidity, pressure, atmosphere and radiation levels within the simulation chamber.[2]
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