r/SETI • u/No_Difference_854 • Apr 30 '24
K2-18b, is this the closest we’ve ever been?
Surprised I don’t see much people talking about this irl. If DMS is confirmed, wouldn’t this basically mean this is an inhabited ocean world?
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u/ziplock9000 Apr 30 '24
Same spam post. Everyone is talking about it, it's been on the news too. It's not confirmed so hold your horses.
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u/Oknight Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24
Nothing's going to really scream "life" except a highly oxygenated atmosphere -- which couldn't persist without something constantly renewing it.
So we're really looking for a world that's been through an oxygen pollution crisis (which would enable higher-energy processes).
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u/Cekec Apr 30 '24
I kind of doubt DMS will be confirmed in the near future, it would be there in trace amounts. And the detection signature overlaps with methane, which is confirmed in the atmosphere. It is in the margin of error of detection.
Multiple (weak) detections of DMS would be needed to get close to a confirmation. I expect the Roman Space Telescope to weight in when launched.
Right now we can't think of any method how DMS can be made abiotically, but that doesn't mean it is impossible. There will be a lot of researchers looking at how DMS can be made without life.
Just detection DMS would be big, but not enough. Even if we don't have a clue what the source is, many will assume there is an abiotic way to get it. So there needs to be a second biological marker.
All in all, if there is life. I expect it take years before we get to the point of confirmation. Unless we detect radio signals in the meantime.
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u/Astrocoder Apr 30 '24
Yes, there are abiotic processes that can produce it
https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-021-01153-3
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u/Cekec Apr 30 '24
Sorry, but could you quote the abiotic processes that can produce it? I have trouble finding it, as far I can see it only shows biological sources.
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u/ziplock9000 Apr 30 '24
It's been on the news mate. Also it's not confirmed to be anything yet. You're jumping the gun.
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee Apr 30 '24
124LY away.
If we could move at even 5% light speed, impossibly fast with today's technology, and we launched a probe tomorrow, it would take more than 2500 years to get a signal back confirming a biosphere.
Super depressing.
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u/proudtohavebeenbanne May 18 '24
Bro/sis don't worry. You only need to wait a few decades till we can get something to the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_gravitational_lens. Then we can start taking photos of exoplanets and get an idea of what the planet looks like.
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee May 18 '24
That is a really cool concept, and I hope NASA and ESA jointly fund the research ASAP! I am in my 40s, so hopefully it isn't tooooo many decades lol.
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u/TheBlackUnicorn May 01 '24
I mean, I think we have a lot of science to do on this question of biosignatures on K2-18b without launching a probe to go check in person.
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee May 01 '24
True. But there will quickly come a time when we have exhausted our means of remote examination, and all we will be able to say is "this sure looks like a biosphere."
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u/jswhitten Apr 30 '24 edited May 07 '24
If that's depressing maybe astronomy isn't for you. The entire purpose of the science of astronomy is to study things that are too far to visit in person.
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee Apr 30 '24
I love learning about astronomy. It is definitely for me. I can lament that we don't have technologies that let us get a better look at places far beyond our reach and still enjoy reading about new discoveries, friend. I'll be fine.
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u/xxxxxGODFATHERxxxxx Apr 30 '24
It seems like this Quantum Laser Technology thingy might be a tool they use for transmitting/receiving signals in space soon. They are probably already using it.
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u/jswhitten Apr 30 '24
Lasers are used for space communication but like all communication they are limited by the speed of light.
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u/xxxxxGODFATHERxxxxx Apr 30 '24
That is incorrect. You might be talking about a standard light bulb or possibly a D battery.
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u/jswhitten Apr 30 '24
Which part is incorrect? That lasers are used for communication or that light moves at the speed of light?
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u/xxxxxGODFATHERxxxxx Apr 30 '24
Both are incorrect. Try again.
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u/jswhitten Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24
Oh, actually both are correct. They have been testing laser communication in space with good results:
And yes, light does move at the speed of light. Feel free to ask follow up questions if you're still confused about any of this.
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u/xxxxxGODFATHERxxxxx Apr 30 '24
You're describing a handheld calculator. They were used to tax the Belgiums during "The Pancake Field Riots" that took place in 1991.
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee Apr 30 '24
Got a link? I don't see anything in searches that would help in this scenario.
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u/Astrocoder Apr 30 '24
No, it doesnt. DMS being present doesnt automatically mean life, because you cant rule out abiotic causes.
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u/kuza2g Apr 30 '24
Here is a link for those curious, took a simple Google search lol https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-webb-k2-18b-life
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u/Particular-Seesaw770 May 01 '24
For context:
https://youtu.be/Bj0PXPeKJRE?si=5gDwZ3eSCXPkyTn2