- cross-posted to:
- world@lemmy.world
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- world@lemmy.world
- news@lemmy.world
You must log in or register to comment.
This is very preliminary data, and we shouldn’t get overexcited about the possible implications of this discovery, but I think it’s fascinating.
You can’t tell me what to do. There’s far-away sky people, the news person told me so.
I know it’s very preliminary data but can’t help being a little excited! It’s so interesting!
Could just as easily be a new natural process for creating that molecule, though. 😮💨
I agree that, if the detection is accurate and correct, it could be produced through non-biological processes, but, on earth, the molecule in question is known to be produced solely by biological processes. So when you say “easily”, I must disagree.
Yep. Especially since this is an exotic kind of planet around a very different star. Then again, if abiogenesis is easy you’d expect this planet to have extensive microbial life. It’s a 2.5Gyr old system.
CHEKOV: We’ve picked up a minor energy flux reading on one dynoscanner.
TERRELL: Damn! Are you sure? Maybe the scanner’s out of adjustment.
In case anyone’s still looking, here’s the paper, I finally got around to looking at it.
They didn’t just find DMS, they found a buttload of DMS. Like, it’s the third strongest signature they detected after the methane and CO2. On Earth it’s measured in parts per trillion.
Here’s the guy’s previous modeling of the chemistry of such a planet, in case like me you’re wondering about the source of the details of the whole CO2/CO/CH4 situation.
