Scientists Find Water on Extra-solar Planet

amigoro writes "Scientists have, for the first time, conclusively discovered the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of a planet beyond our Solar System, according to an article appearing in Nature. They made the discovery by analysing the transit of the gas giant HD 189733b across its star, in the Infrared using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. HD 189733b is a 'hot jupiter', a gas giant that is roughly the size and mass of Jupiter but orbits very close to the star, so no chance of life there."

Comments

Hrrmph!

[fiannaFailMan]

All this talk about water on extra-solar planets. Now if they found a trapdoor, that would be something!

Re:Hrrmph!

[arazor]

You try making water when your prostate is the size of grapefruit! Then we can talk about how making water is not difficult.

Re:Hrrmph!

[hazem]

It's not so much that it's unexpected. Theory predicts the existence of water on planets. This is just conclusive confirmation... which is pretty cool.

Kind of like how theoretically, in spite of being a male who reads slashdot, I should be able to get laid. It's just pretty cool when I get conclusive proof of that theory.

hmm

[User 956]

Scientists Find Water on Extra-solar Planet

The only extra solar planet I know of is Pluto, and we've already had that discussion.

Re:no change of life like us

[Anonymous Coward]

As a wise man once said: "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it."

I'm going to be rich.

[GreggBz]

The new company is called Space2ohh (TM). Clean, pure, out of this world refreshment.

I'm seeking venture capital.

Re:no change of life like us

[Bad D.N.A.]

The arrogance of thinking that we're the only possible form of life is ludicrous.

I'm sure that Ludacris's response to that would be your too white and nerdy

I have a friend I'd like you to meet

[r_jensen11]

His name is Vijay

Re:"no chance of life there"

[Bad D.N.A.]

Dude... Your preaching to the choir.

Re:no change of life like us

[Anonymous Coward]

Ludacris is doing Weird Al covers now? Bizzare.

Let me know when they find beer

[NotQuiteReal]

When they detect beer on another planet, THEN, we'll be talking!

Re:no change of life like us

[trolltalk.com]

"And yet it may indeed be that ours is the easiest, and therefore most likely, form of life to get started."

o argument about it. Its a lot easier than, say, building a car. A car requires over 3,000 pieces - to make a human only requires 2 bumpers and a connecting rod.

Re:no change of life like us

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure that Ludacris's response to that would be your too white and nerdy

you're foo, not your. "Is our children learning?" how

you're = you are. your = possessive

back to skool foo, before I bust a cap in yo ass.

Re:Forgive me but...

[MLease]

Especially if they're overladies!

-Mike

Re:no change of life like us

[Farmer Tim]

There can be a species of friendly gas bags

Unlike the species of evil gas bags we keep electing...

you bastard

[Anonymous Coward]

I am a lazy science fiction writer's unimaginative extraterrestrial biologist friend, you insensitive clod!

CO2 from volcanoes?

[Comboman]

On the other side, if you gas the atmosphere too much with CO2 from volcanoes, the atmosphere will superheat.

Volcanoes? That's impossible! Al Gore told me that excess CO2 can only come from SUVs.

Re:While a great discovery, Is this surprising?

[endianx]

What is "Europe"? Is that in Canada somewhere?

Re:no change of life like us

[hemorex]

... which, ironically, have no shame about showing off their 'glowy bits'...

Re:no change of life like us

[benhocking]

Your two critical. Its not everyone who can get they're grammar write.