Starship Asterisk*

Astronomers do it Again: Find Organic Molecules Around Gas Planet
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=2340
The planet is not habitable but it has the same chemistry that, if found around a rocky planet in the future, could indicate the presence of life. . . . Detecting organic compounds in two exoplanets now raises the possibility that it will become commonplace to find planets with molecules that may be tied to life.

HD 209458b is a hot, gaseous giant planet bigger than Jupiter that orbits a sun-like star about 150 light years away in the constellation Pegasus.

Rocky worlds are expected to be found by NASA's Kepler mission, which launched earlier this year, but astronomers believe we are a decade or so away from being able to detect any chemical signs of life on such a body.
. . .
If and when such Earth-like planets are found in the future, the detection of organic compounds will not necessarily mean there's life on a planet, because there are other ways to generate such molecules . . . we will want to understand enough about the planet to rule out non-life processes that could have led to those chemicals being there.

These findings and their certainties should surprise no one.

As Thich Nhat Hahn once told me, happiness is like walking along thirsty and coming upon a well, while joy is like drinking from the well.

mishkin wrote:These findings and their certainties should surprise no one.

Agreed, both the gas gaints (Jupiter and Saturn) as well as the ice giants (Uranus and Neptune) have plenty of organic chemicals. Seems reasonable that we'd find these chemicals in your average everyday planet.

How cool is it to be able to refer to extra solar planets as "average everyday objects?"

8)

G'day

Chemosynthesis similar to photosynthesis only requires Hydrogen sulphide a natural compound that comes out of vocanoes.

Imagine the possibilities on Io the moon of Jupiter, being the most volcanic planet/moon in the solar system.

harry wrote:G'day

Chemosynthesis similar to photosynthesis only requires Hydrogen sulphide a natural compound that comes out of vocanoes.

Imagine the possibilities on Io the moon of jupiter, being the most volcani planet/moon in the solar system.

Right here on our planet earth life forms depend on sulphur as their energy source. As APOD posters appear fond of music, I will say, "We've only just begun" our exploration.

G'day mishkin

Your right.

But! the point is the similar use of photon energy from HS as from Photosynthesis.

There is a school of thought that says that life started at the bottom of the oceans via Chemosynthesis then evolved photosynthesis.

harry wrote:G'day mishkin

Your right.

But! the point is the similar use of photon energy from HS as from Photosynthesis.

There is a school of thought that says that life started at the bottom of the oceans via Chemosynthesis then evolved photosynthesis.

Ah yes, a very ancient belief is this one, found in many cultures in the beginning.

G'day Mishkin

Smile

No the thought is modern era.

Since the life forms without photosynthesis evolved first.

harry wrote:G'day Mishkin

Smile

No the thought is modern era.

Since the life forms without photosynthesis evolved first.

Haroldskivitch (I use your name in the eastern form affectionately)

The 'ancient' I wrote of I wrote not degrogatorilly of. Those writings set down that first their were oceans, and then light coming after. With oceans, you will have life, yes? Life not dependant on sunlight. So you see, the modern meets the ancient in correctness. Such an example could be seen on the ice-covered oceans of the large gas planets (with rocky core) Jupiter and Saturn. If one of those large planets began warming (from an unknown origin to be sure .. perhaps involving a large comet strike or simple beginning of radioactivity, or in the natural life process of the planet) then the warmth might melt the ice on their moon, then perhaps ignition and controlled burning would occur on the planet or its atmosphere, like the controlled burning of our sun, then the ignition would let there be light for the moon's ocean.
Simplicity itself .. like our beautiful lives of St. Petersburg. You must come.