- cross-posted to:
- space@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- space@lemmy.ml
A new investigation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb’s discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.
serious surface gravity on a superearth I presume… methane, is it only producible via organic processes?
IIRC methane isn’t exclusive to biological processes, but coexisting with carbon dioxide makes it highly unlikely without biological processes
Yes and even if it wasn’t from biological processes those conditions are livable enough for microbial organisms (anaerobic methane oxidation). If dimethyl sulfide is there than yup that’s some good shit right there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_oxidation_of_methane
Of course the actual temperatures of things there are up in the air, but if I had a spaceship I’d go there this instant.
Stupid physics always getting in the way of my childhood fantasy of being a space trucker.
Come play Eve, 99% of us are cosplaying Lone Starr and Barff, basically.
“I’d go there this instant”
I mean a TARDIS, obviously!
That was my first thought. That doesn’t mean there couldn’t be microbial life there though. One of the gases being released, or supposedly released is mostly made by phytoplankton here. So if anything this may confirm microscopic life forms on other planets.
Maybe super mini crab or slug people.
Uranus and Neptune both have a significant amount of methane, as does Titan.
It’s probably the mix of all the gasses (including the dimethyl sulfide tentative finding) that makes it exciting. Methane isn’t a bio-signature on its own.