The Gang of Five

Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => The Fridge => Topic started by: rhombus on November 13, 2015, 12:06:53 AM

Title: Two interesting scientific findings
Post by: rhombus on November 13, 2015, 12:06:53 AM

There have been two rather interesting developments concerning Earth and Space science in the last few days.  

First, a study (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/350/6262/795) published by the journal Science indicates that much of Earth's water probably came from the proto-planetary disk that the planet formed from as opposed to direct comet and asteroid impacts.  That is not to say that such impacts did not play a role in Earth acquiring its current proportion of water, they most certainly did; but it appears that the significance of such impacts in providing such water may not be as great as first thought.

Secondly, scientists have found a nearby super-Earth planet that will be close enough (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-12/scientists-find-exoplanet-close-enough-to-study-atmosphere/6937130) for the James Webb Space Telescope to investigate its atmosphere when it is launched in 2018.  The planet is too hot for life as we know it to survive there (no liquid water on the surface) but nonetheless it will be amazing to be able to analyze the atmosphere of a planet around another star.

Title: Two interesting scientific findings
Post by: Kor on November 13, 2015, 02:24:25 AM

I read about this, the exo planet I read about this morning. Interesting news.  If I recall correctly it orbits a dwarf star.

Title: Two interesting scientific findings
Post by: bestariana1girl on November 13, 2015, 04:42:53 PM

I'd like to see this planet :)

Title: Two interesting scientific findings
Post by: vonboy on November 13, 2015, 08:32:19 PM

Very interesting finds. :)

I'd like to see more about that exoplanet, too. It's 39 light-years away, apparently.