4 ms·
From the abstract: "The closeness of the host star to the Sun makes [it possible] for their atmosphere to be studied via high-contrast high-resolution spectros
by splittingTimes 4y ago
From the abstract:
"The closeness of the host star to the Sun makes [it possible] for their atmosphere to be studied via high-contrast high-resolution spectroscopy."
Hopefully they can follow-up soon with those measurements. That could bring clarify to your fundamental questions.
- pfdietz 4y agoIt's possible that such planets could have abiotic oxygen atmospheres, from water photolysed by intense UV radiation from the star. The hydrogen would escape to space. For that reason, even if oxygen (or ozone) is detected, it would not necessarily be a sign of life.
- nine_k 4y agoThe presence of abiotic oxygen could help develop oxygen-breathing life, the same way as abiotic sulfur gives rise to teeming spots of life on the bottom of Earth oceans [1]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent_microbial_communities#Sulfur_Cycle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent_microbial_co...
- perihelions 4y agoAny concrete numbers on that? I'd speculate there'd only be trace amounts: solar photochemistry is pretty slow, and rock weathering eats up any free molecular oxygen. Not sure of the relative rates.