Molecular Basis for Life Found on Extrasolar Planet

DarkProphet writes "NASA scientists have discovered the first evidence of organic molecules on an extrasolar planet. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, they detected trace amounts of methane on a swirling gas giant about 63 light-years from our own planet. Being a gas giant, there's almost no chance this discovery represents extrasolar life. A unique find, just the same. 'HD 189733b, a so-called "hot Jupiter," located 63 light years away, has proven a boon for scientists studying exoplanets. Its large size and proximity to its star mean that it dims the star's light more than any other known exoplanet. Combine that with its home star's high brightness, and scientists find that the system creates the best viewing conditions of any known extrasolar system. At different wavelengths, every atom and molecule has its own telltale footprint, so scientists can convert what are known as absorption spectra into the chemical composition of the object they're looking at.'"

Comments

just to highlight

[ionix5891]

they found methane which is quite common in our solar system, its not that they found methane being present thats is the breakthrough here, its the fact that they have fine enough instruments to measure a planet ~60 light years away, this absolutely amazing! fairplay!!

the planet in question is bigger than Jupiter and closer to its sun than mercury, so its way too hot for any life "as we know it" to survive

Been over this before

[explosivejared]

We just went over this exact occurrence just a month ago. Go ahead with the flatulence jokes all the same though, it would be a break of tradition if you didn't.

Headline is misleading

[hcg50a]

The big deal, according to the article, is that they were able to detect it for the first time, not that it was discovered. It is expected to be present.

Here's a quote from one of the workers:

If we were able to detect [methane] on a more hospitable planet in the future, it would really be something exciting.

Now, oxygen, on the other hand...

[Loke the Dog]

Well, it's cool that we can find proof of any kind of molecules on extrasolar planets, but I'm still waiting for the discovery of O2 on an extra solar planet, that will be the discovery of the century. Methane is not so cool.

Re:Now, oxygen, on the other hand...

[mog007]

The first lifeforms on our own planet didn't use O2 for respiration. It took a very, very, very long time for the Earth's original atmosphere to be converted to the 70% nitrogen, 20% oxygen atmosphere we're comfortable breathing now. Even today we have a very popular organism that doesn't require O2 to function, and the wonderful result of lacking O2 is ethanol.

Liquid water is the smoking gun for life forms, and maybe some serious carbon.

Re:Methane - Big Deal

[Leftist Troll]

I was under the impression that methane was fairly common in the Universe. For example, Uranus is full of methane.

Re:Methane - Big Deal

[Loke the Dog]

It's funny, you were modded troll even though what you said is both true and relevant. We really need to rename that planet.

Re:Hydrogues

[wizardforce]

so what's the basis for ruling out life on gas giants 60 ly away?

the fact that it is 1300 degrees, so hot that water starts reacting with methane to produce carbon monoxide.

Re:Well...

[AHumbleOpinion]

Well, we know you don't work in software. A software developer would have said "Hello world"

Well, we know you don't use email. An email user would not expect the first communication to be "Hello there" or "Hello world", an email user would expect:

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