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Webb Discovers Methane, Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere of K2-18 b (www.nasa.gov)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A new investigation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb’s discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

It’s probably the mix of all the gasses (including the dimethyl sulfide tentative finding) that makes it exciting. Methane isn’t a bio-signature on its own.