Scientists detect signature of life on a distant planet, study suggests

CNN ^ | 4/17/25 | Ashley Strickland

[dragnet2]

Some people will quickly call it BS, and most of them are simply motivated fear and the unknown. The thought of earth not being the center of the universe and the possibility of life forms existing outside earth scares the bejesus out of them. It takes them out of their comfort zone...☺

[alstewartfan]

It was a clear sighting of Bigfoot. Finally!! 🐵

[RoosterRedux]

Same here about Elon’s thoughts.

[dragnet2]

Even if it’s tidally locked, considering the size of the planet, the area or strip of constant twilight would be massive.

[RoosterRedux]

Exactly right.

[WASCWatch]

It is BS. Just an effort to get more funding.

Even if it is true, what real scientific benefit is there in studying? That’s right, there is none.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Some people will quickly call it BS, and most of them are simply motivated fear and the unknown.

In 2000, NASA published this article:
"New Report Offers Evidence of Primitive Life on Mars"

The article caused such a stir even Bill Clinton gave a speech about its discovery and implications.

NASA removed and retracted the article. It was bunk, or BS.

[Carl Vehse]

Other factors can reduce the likelihood of life, like the stripping of the atmosphere by plasma flares, the freezing of oceans (if they exist) on one side and their evaporation on the side continuously facing the dwarf star, whether the planet has a magnetic field, or plate tectonics.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“On Earth, both molecules are only produced by microbial life, typically marine phytoplankton.”

Call me in a few million years after they drag themselves out of the sea and sprout legs. ;)

[Jan_Sobieski]

Next global ruse is aliens 👽. Werner Von Braun warned us…

[Drew68]

I would guess odds are very low that this is an actual life signature.

These types of planets are called "Hycean water worlds" and once only theorized, they're now being spotted all over the place around red dwarf stars, the most common star in the universe.

They're basically large "super earths" except fully covered in liquid water with thick hydrogen atmospheres. Finding simple, microbial life or algae on them might not be really be much of a surprise considering these types of planets are considered perfect candidates and the JWT was designed specifically to look for these atmospheric signatures.

Again, we're talking algae here, not advanced civilizations.

I would imagine they're going to start finding these "algae worlds" all over the place.

[dragnet2]

Other factors can reduce the likelihood of life

And other factors can increase the likelihood of life. Point being, some of those factors we might have no clue about.

[dragnet2]

AI says:

Generally, where there’s algae, there’s also other life. Algae are a foundational part of many ecosystems, and their presence often indicates a healthy and thriving environment that supports a variety of other organisms. In essence, the presence of algae signals the existence of a viable and dynamic ecosystem that supports a wide range of life, from the smallest creatures to larger predators.

[fso301]

The Clinton regime pushed hard on a Martian meteor bacteria hoax?

[Carl Vehse]

"And other factors can increase the likelihood of life. Point being, some of those factors we might have no clue about."

That's like saying there might be other factors we might have no clue about that would decrease the likelihood of life on such a planet.

Only factors that are known or reasonably possible can be used to make an estimate of the probability of life existing there.

[dragnet2]

It is BS. Just an effort to get more funding. Even if it is true, what real scientific benefit is there in studying?

There is lots of research going on out there that receives NO funding.

Btw, you say there is no scientific benefit if one day it's proven and confirmed life forms exist outside earth? I think that would ramp up scientific research like never seen before.

[dragnet2]

Only factors that are known or reasonably possible can be used to make an estimate of the probability of life existing there.

Exactly correct. And my point.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

"Call me in a few million years after they drag themselves out of the sea and sprout legs."

[jerod]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That’s what I’m sayin’! :)

There is either a ‘Seinfeld’ or a ‘Far Side’ for any and every situation!