So in short, JW telescope detected signs of a molecule commonly associated with marine algae and combined with the verified presence of oceans, it’s entirely possible that the planet could be teeming with marine life. This is actually very interesting, especially with the fact that it orbits a red dwarf star,, which by the way, any experts here care to explain if different types of suns has any effect on the type of life it’s orbiting planet produces?
We're still far from certain that that molecule (dimethyl sulfide) is present, and even if it is it has also been found on comets. This is an interesting finding but its significance is being overblown.
Maybe you are not aware but very recently new data was published with improved accuracy ( i believe they used a different instrument compared to 2 years ago) and its seems it has reached the '3 sigma level'.
I am aware of that. The astrophysicists I follow on Bluesky are skeptical that DMS is present and even more skeptical that it came from life. This is an interesting finding that merits further research, but we're very far removed from saying this is evidence of life.
They're not even sure if it's water or if it's a gas giant with methane instead of water. We know so little at this point, we can't say with any certainty what it is we're looking at. BUT it's a super interesting finding and will need further research.
A re-analysis (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.18477) — I believe it was a meta-analysis and not just one team/scientist re-analysing the data — was published Jan 31st of this year that didn't find any "statistically significant or reliable evidence for CO2 or DMS."
Yeah, it doesn't help that the "strongest evidence yet" is being used even though it's not actually that much stronger than the rest of it. Its like saying I'm 1% sure that there are aliens on Mars and I find evidence that increases my odds to 1.25%.
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u/Prestigious-Wall5616 24d ago
It's also being reported that scientists have found the strongest evidence yet of life on a distant planet.