09-11-2019, 07:09 PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49648746
Astronomers have for the first time discovered water in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting within the habitable zone of a distant star.
The finding makes the world - which is called K2-18b - a plausible candidate in the search for alien life.
Within 10 years, new space telescopes might be able to determine whether K2-18b's atmosphere contains gases that could be produced by living organisms.
Details were published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.
The lead scientist, Prof Giovanna Tinetti of University College London (UCL) described the discovery as "mind blowing".
Well, this is quite something . Just a couple of weeks ago, in the "Fermi Paradox" thread, I posted a John Michael Godier video listing 10 possible solutions. His #9 was "Surface oceans might be rare" - and this discovery suggests that that's not it!
Of course, there are several steps between "Habitable planet with surface oceans" and "Planet with life on it" - but, it's certainly the closest we've come to date .
Astronomers have for the first time discovered water in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting within the habitable zone of a distant star.
The finding makes the world - which is called K2-18b - a plausible candidate in the search for alien life.
Within 10 years, new space telescopes might be able to determine whether K2-18b's atmosphere contains gases that could be produced by living organisms.
Details were published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.
The lead scientist, Prof Giovanna Tinetti of University College London (UCL) described the discovery as "mind blowing".
Well, this is quite something . Just a couple of weeks ago, in the "Fermi Paradox" thread, I posted a John Michael Godier video listing 10 possible solutions. His #9 was "Surface oceans might be rare" - and this discovery suggests that that's not it!
Of course, there are several steps between "Habitable planet with surface oceans" and "Planet with life on it" - but, it's certainly the closest we've come to date .
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