Scientists Discover Water On Surface of an Asteroid (space.com) 24
For the first time, scientists say they've detected water molecules on the surface of an asteroid. Space.com reports: Scientists studied four silicate-rich asteroids using data gathered by the now-retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a telescope-outfitted plane operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center. Observations by SOFIA's Faint Object InfraRed Camera (FORCAST) instrument showed that two of the asteroids -- named Iris and Massalia -- exhibit a specific wavelength of light that indicated the presence of water molecules at their surface, a new study reports.
While water molecules have previously been detected in asteroid samples returned to Earth, this is the first time that water molecules have been found on the surface of an asteroid in space. In a previous study, SOFIA found similar traces of water on the surface of the moon, in one of the largest craters in its southern hemisphere. [...]
Therefore, the findings at Iris and Massalia suggest that some silicate asteroids can conserve some of their water over the eons and may be more commonly found in the inner solar system than previously thought. In fact, asteroids are believed to be the primary source of Earth's water, providing the necessary elements for life as we know it. Understanding of the distribution of water through space will help researchers better assess where to search for other forms of potential life, both in our solar system and beyond. The findings have been published in The Planetary Science Journal.
While water molecules have previously been detected in asteroid samples returned to Earth, this is the first time that water molecules have been found on the surface of an asteroid in space. In a previous study, SOFIA found similar traces of water on the surface of the moon, in one of the largest craters in its southern hemisphere. [...]
Therefore, the findings at Iris and Massalia suggest that some silicate asteroids can conserve some of their water over the eons and may be more commonly found in the inner solar system than previously thought. In fact, asteroids are believed to be the primary source of Earth's water, providing the necessary elements for life as we know it. Understanding of the distribution of water through space will help researchers better assess where to search for other forms of potential life, both in our solar system and beyond. The findings have been published in The Planetary Science Journal.
Too narrow on life possibilities (Score:3)
Understanding of the distribution of water through space will help researchers better assess where to search for other forms of potential life, both in our solar system and beyond.
Definitely too narrow on life possibilities which can cause missing different life forms. Water might not be needed by some life forms.
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Understanding of the distribution of water through space will help researchers better assess where to search for other forms of potential life, both in our solar system and beyond.
Definitely too narrow on life possibilities which can cause missing different life forms. Water might not be needed by some life forms.
That would be life, Jim, but not as we know it.
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Is it Jim Holden, beltalowda?
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Definitely too narrow on life possibilities which can cause missing different life forms. Water might not be needed by some life forms.
You're not wrong.. But PBS SpaceTime has a great episode on why extraterrestrial life, if it exits, is "probably" going to be similar to ours in basic chemical processes and makeup.
We're made of what we're made of because it's easier (conservation of energy) to use carbon than silicon. Oxygen "oxides" with damn near anything. And a lot more that is way better explained in the show. The Episode is called "What if Life were Silicon Based?"
Point is, our resources are way better spent looking for proces
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Thanks for the tv show tip. I'll check it out.
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Thanks, I'll check it out tomorrow. I already killed half a day watching videos from the PBS list.
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By analogy with carbon based life, you'd expect it to exhale silicon dioxide. Alas, that's a solid at what we consider to be room temperature, quartz to be exact, and they're going to have to use some other pathway to get rid of it.
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But PBS SpaceTime has a great episode ...The Episode is called "What if Life were Silicon Based?"
Thanks for the show tip.
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Perhaps try reversing that logic? Water is so amazing, and so useful to the chemistry of life, that using it provides extraordinary evolutionary advantages over life that might exist without it?
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You can't with people like the person you're replying to. With their vast ignorance of chemistry and physics, they think they've stumbled on some deep insight and that the scientific community is a bunch of idiots who haven't considered it, that they're some kind of genius simply unrecognized by 'the system'.
It's an ego-based position. If it wasn't... they'd read up on the reasons scientists believe life is almost certainly going to be carbon-based and arise in a wet environment with a gentle energy gradi
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is the projection strong in this one?
Re: Too narrow on life possibilities (Score:2)
Re:I found water today!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe since the media thinks water=life there's life in my toilet.
I've got news for you - there are a LOT of things living in your toilet.
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Why doesn't it boil away into space as soon as it's formed?
Aliens stealing our water (Score:2)
This is great news!
With so much water available elsewhere maybe they'll finally stop coming here to drain our oceans.
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That was, admittedly, one of the _stupidest_ parts of The Marvels. Any creatures with cheap space flight, or cheap portals, could tap the ice rings of gas giant planets for water and the makings of atmosphere.
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One doesn't _store_ a planet worth of water. One _tows_ icy moonlets. The technology is much simpler, and much cheaper, than high speed interplanetary or interstellar craft. Stripping another planet's oceans or atmosphere makes about as much sense as bombing Gaza to recover hostages. It creates more trouble than it solves.
Is It Wet? (Score:1)
Or is it some strange form of water? Does it taste like chicken?
Not Water but Ice, Not First (Score:2)
Has the standard of science journalism now dropped so low that the author of the article was unaware that ice is made of water molecules?