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Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

(www.nytimes.com)
168 points julienchastang | 1 comments | 16 Apr 25 23:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.202s | source
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damnitbuilds ◴[17 Apr 25 01:09 UTC] No.43712047[source]▶
What now? How do we confirm or disprove life there?

Existing telescopes?

Or do we need to design one quick, for Starship to take up next year?

replies(3): >>43712103 #>>43712121 #>>43712201 #
damnitbuilds ◴[17 Apr 25 01:20 UTC] No.43712121[source]▶
And challenge chemists to produce these compounds abiotically ?
replies(1): >>43712923 #
1. AIPedant ◴[17 Apr 25 03:45 UTC] No.43712923[source]▶
These compounds are easily produced in a lab or industrially (methanol + hydrogen sulfide + aluminum oxide as a catalyst). The only known natural source is photosynthesis, but the article mentions that vulcanism/etc is possible.