Picture a world that exists under a gravity far greater than our own—a place where every step feels like lifting twice your weight, where the very pull of the planet shapes all life. Now imagine the James Webb Telescope (JWT), with its unparalleled sensitivity, detecting traces of unusual technogases in that world’s atmosphere. These gases—compounds unlikely to occur naturally—suggest that someone, or something, out there has been tinkering, building, perhaps even dreaming. It’s a thrilling find: evidence that intelligence and industry might thrive in environments very different from Earth.
But what would life be like for beings bound to such a massive planet, one with gravity strong enough to forge them into a form as unique as the conditions they endure?
What the Beings Might Look Like
On a super-Earth like HD 20794 d, evolution would favor short, robust creatures—life forms built for power and efficiency. Spindly legs and delicate structures would be out of the question. Instead, imagine squat, muscular beings with wide, sturdy torsos and thick, column-like limbs. Their skin might be tough and leathery, adapted to resist constant pressure. Joints and bones would be reinforced, perhaps even layered with dense mineral-like structures to bear the constant strain of their weight.
These creatures might also have enhanced cardiovascular and respiratory systems, pumping blood and oxygen more efficiently to sustain their heavier bodies. Eyes could be large, not just to see through thick atmospheres (if that’s the case), but also to maximize the light gathered in environments where every resource is precious. Their hands would be strong, capable of lifting heavy materials with ease, and their reflexes would likely be quick, honed by the need to adapt swiftly to their high-gravity world.
Dreams of the Stars
The discovery of technogases, perhaps remnants of ancient industries or current technologies, would spark profound cultural and scientific revolutions on HD 20794 d. Imagine these beings gazing upward, knowing that out there, someone else has achieved what they only dare to dream: the freedom to leave their homeworld.
Their understanding of the stars would likely be as deep as it is heartbreaking. With gravity so strong, reaching orbit is not just difficult—it borders on the impossible with standard methods. Rockets would need vast amounts of fuel just to break free, and space elevators or other ambitious infrastructure would strain even their most advanced materials. They’d understand the stars intimately through observation, but the idea of physically touching them would remain agonizingly out of reach.
And yet, they would dream. Their thinkers would speculate about harnessing unknown energies or finding entirely new ways to defy gravity. Their scientists would theorize technologies far beyond chemical rockets—exotic propulsion systems that could launch them skyward without needing to fight the immense pull of their planet’s surface. Their storytellers would weave myths about beings who broke free of the ground and now dance among the stars, inspiring generations to keep trying.
A Space Race Without Escape
Even without leaving the ground, their world might experience a kind of space race—a drive to innovate, to push the boundaries of what’s possible, all while tethered to the surface. Rival nations or groups could compete to build the tallest observation towers, the largest telescopes, or the most powerful atmospheric probes. They might develop spacecraft that can briefly skim their upper atmosphere before falling back, gaining ever more knowledge about what lies beyond.
Over time, their mastery of science and engineering would grow, fueled by the tantalizing presence of technogases that prove they aren’t alone. The discovery would motivate them to solve problems on their own planet—creating stronger materials, unlocking new energy sources, and perhaps even finding ways to lighten their burden. While they may never have a conventional space race like we imagine, their efforts to understand and reach the stars would be a different kind of race: one driven by curiosity, ingenuity, and a relentless desire to transcend the limits of their world.
In the end, these gravity-bound beings might become the universe’s greatest astronomers, unrivaled in their knowledge of the cosmos, all while dreaming of a day—however distant—when their descendants may one day slip the bonds of their heavy world and join the technogases’ creators among the stars.
