Post by Andrei Tchentchik on May 3, 2020 16:55:09 GMT 2
(.#452).- Pessimistic study, concerning the discovery of an extraterrestrial life.
A study is pessimistic, concerning the discovery of an extraterrestrial life.
By: Yohan Demeure, scientific writer
November 17, 2019, 4 h 51 min
Credits: NRAO / AUI / NSF / S. Dagnell
The search for extraterrestrial life increasingly mobilizes researchers. However, a recent study is quite pessimistic about such a discovery. According to the researchers, life may be totally absent in certain water points where the living conditions are too extreme.
Summary :
Water is life
Too difficult conditions
A useful study
Water is life
Recently, two entities decided to join forces to discover extraterrestrial life. It is SETI, specialized in the search for signs of extraterrestrial life and the TESS satellite, focused on the search for exoplanets. Recently, the Nobel laureate in physics Didier Queloz estimated that such a discovery should occur in the next 30 years.
In August 2019, an Italian researcher proved the existence of a lake of liquid water under the South Pole in March. 20 km long, it is said to be under a thick 1.5 km thick layer of ice. The research for a microbial life focuses on water, although other conditions must be met. Recall that on Earth, there are extremophilic organisms, that is to say capable of surviving in extreme conditions. However, these can evolve in terribly acidic waters and / or showing an extremely high temperature. Hope seems to be allowed. So why wouldn't life be present elsewhere in the Universe?
Too difficult conditions
A recent study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution on October 28 came to bring its dose of pessimism. The Purificación López-García team from the CNRS Systematic Ecology and Evolution (ESE) pole has notably discovered a water point with extreme conditions in which no life has been found!
This discovery was made in the Danakil depression (Ethiopia), more precisely in the geothermal region of the Dallol volcano. The water point devoid of life brings together a sum of characteristics fatal to any form of life, even for extremophiles! We are talking about terribly hot, acidic and salty water.
The Dallol volcano area in the Danakil depression is reputed to host the most extreme water points on the globe!
Credits: Gusjer / Flickr
A useful study
The study in question will undoubtedly be used for future space exploration. Indeed, the researchers found "imposters of biological organisms" in the water points studied. These are actually grains rich in silica that look like cells. Thus, this discovery will enable the future not to interpret certain study results too quickly.
Finally, the researchers are not categorical. According to them, it is possible that life could have developed on other planets in water points as extreme as those studied at Dallol. Indeed, the conditions favorable to life could be different there, and have given rise to a completely different evolution.
F I N .
A study is pessimistic, concerning the discovery of an extraterrestrial life.
By: Yohan Demeure, scientific writer
November 17, 2019, 4 h 51 min
Credits: NRAO / AUI / NSF / S. Dagnell
The search for extraterrestrial life increasingly mobilizes researchers. However, a recent study is quite pessimistic about such a discovery. According to the researchers, life may be totally absent in certain water points where the living conditions are too extreme.
Summary :
Water is life
Too difficult conditions
A useful study
Water is life
Recently, two entities decided to join forces to discover extraterrestrial life. It is SETI, specialized in the search for signs of extraterrestrial life and the TESS satellite, focused on the search for exoplanets. Recently, the Nobel laureate in physics Didier Queloz estimated that such a discovery should occur in the next 30 years.
In August 2019, an Italian researcher proved the existence of a lake of liquid water under the South Pole in March. 20 km long, it is said to be under a thick 1.5 km thick layer of ice. The research for a microbial life focuses on water, although other conditions must be met. Recall that on Earth, there are extremophilic organisms, that is to say capable of surviving in extreme conditions. However, these can evolve in terribly acidic waters and / or showing an extremely high temperature. Hope seems to be allowed. So why wouldn't life be present elsewhere in the Universe?
Too difficult conditions
A recent study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution on October 28 came to bring its dose of pessimism. The Purificación López-García team from the CNRS Systematic Ecology and Evolution (ESE) pole has notably discovered a water point with extreme conditions in which no life has been found!
This discovery was made in the Danakil depression (Ethiopia), more precisely in the geothermal region of the Dallol volcano. The water point devoid of life brings together a sum of characteristics fatal to any form of life, even for extremophiles! We are talking about terribly hot, acidic and salty water.
The Dallol volcano area in the Danakil depression is reputed to host the most extreme water points on the globe!
Credits: Gusjer / Flickr
A useful study
The study in question will undoubtedly be used for future space exploration. Indeed, the researchers found "imposters of biological organisms" in the water points studied. These are actually grains rich in silica that look like cells. Thus, this discovery will enable the future not to interpret certain study results too quickly.
Finally, the researchers are not categorical. According to them, it is possible that life could have developed on other planets in water points as extreme as those studied at Dallol. Indeed, the conditions favorable to life could be different there, and have given rise to a completely different evolution.
F I N .
