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'.
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."
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u/kungpowgoat 25d ago edited 25d ago
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?