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Scientists Find Water on Extra-solar Planet

Posted by samzenpus on from the there-is-no-tea-like-space-tea dept.

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."

9 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Hrrmph! by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:Hrrmph! by hazem · · Score: 4, Funny

      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.

  2. hmm by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scientists Find Water on Extra-solar Planet

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

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. I'm going to be rich. by GreggBz · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    I'm seeking venture capital.

  4. I have a friend I'd like you to meet by r_jensen11 · · Score: 4, Funny

    His name is Vijay

  5. Re:"no chance of life there" by Bad+D.N.A. · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dude... Your preaching to the choir.

    --
    "Truth is much too complicated to allow anything but approximations"
  6. Let me know when they find beer by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  7. Re:no change of life like us by trolltalk.com · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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.

    --
    Kevin Smith on Prince
  8. Re:no change of life like us by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 5, Funny

    There can be a species of friendly gas bags

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

    --
    Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.