First Orgainc Molecules discovered on Exoplanet
Hubble finds methane and water on HD 189733b. HD 189733b is a planet outside of our solar system, hence the name exoplanet. It is a gas giant, and can therefore have its atmosphere analyzed by looking at the wavelengths of light reflecting off of it. This is exactly what the Hubble Space Telescope does. And on HD 189733b it found methane and water vapor. Although it is a gas giant, it has the potential to maintain life. The gas of its atmosphere would be incredibly dense, almost like liquid, and would have a calm belt somewhere in the middle that could sustain life. Water vapor and methane are the first steps in life, both being necessary to begin what is known as prebiotic chemistry; the chain reaction that turns proteins into living prokaryotic cells. For the first time in history, we have discovered a world that is not only capable of supporting life, but is likely to have some kind of life. The life there would be strange, as it would be methane-water based instead of carbon-water based and would therefore be completely different; as it would have something other than DNA (seeing as DNA is 99.9% based on carbon) to pass on its genetics. It would also have a totally different evolutionary line, if it evolved into complex life at all. Chances are, it wouldn't; but I estimate a 15% chance it could evolve into something complex. It would never be truly intelligent; for without natural terrestrial materials or fire it wouldn't even reach the stone age. It's still an exciting development, and I'll be watching it to see what happens.
Hubble finds methane and water on HD 189733b. HD 189733b is a planet outside of our solar system, hence the name exoplanet. It is a gas giant, and can therefore have its atmosphere analyzed by looking at the wavelengths of light reflecting off of it. This is exactly what the Hubble Space Telescope does. And on HD 189733b it found methane and water vapor. Although it is a gas giant, it has the potential to maintain life. The gas of its atmosphere would be incredibly dense, almost like liquid, and would have a calm belt somewhere in the middle that could sustain life. Water vapor and methane are the first steps in life, both being necessary to begin what is known as prebiotic chemistry; the chain reaction that turns proteins into living prokaryotic cells. For the first time in history, we have discovered a world that is not only capable of supporting life, but is likely to have some kind of life. The life there would be strange, as it would be methane-water based instead of carbon-water based and would therefore be completely different; as it would have something other than DNA (seeing as DNA is 99.9% based on carbon) to pass on its genetics. It would also have a totally different evolutionary line, if it evolved into complex life at all. Chances are, it wouldn't; but I estimate a 15% chance it could evolve into something complex. It would never be truly intelligent; for without natural terrestrial materials or fire it wouldn't even reach the stone age. It's still an exciting development, and I'll be watching it to see what happens.