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Doubt cast on claim of 'hints' of life on faraway planet
Space Daily ^ | May 24, 2025 | Daniel Lawler

Posted on 05/24/2025 6:01:56 AM PDT by Salman

When astronomers announced last month they might have discovered the most promising hints of alien life yet on a distant planet, the rare good news raised hopes humanity could soon learn we are not alone in the universe.

But several recent studies looking into the same data have found that there is not enough evidence to support such lofty claims, with one scientist accusing the astronomers of "jumping the gun". Two of Madhusudhan's former students, Luis Welbanks of Arizona State University and Matthew Nixon of Maryland University, were among the researchers who have since re-analysed the data behind the announcement.

When deploying other statistical models, "claims of a potential biosignature detection vanish", according to their preprint study published online late last month.

Like the other papers since the April announcement, it has not been peer-reviewed.

In one model, Welbanks and colleagues expanded the number of possible chemicals that could explain the signals detected by Webb to 90 from the original 20.

More than 50 received a "hit", Welbanks told AFP.

"When you detect everything, did you really detect anything?" he asked.

...

(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: arizonastate; astronomy; daniellawler; exobiology; luiswelbanks; marylandu; matthewnixon; notbeenpeerreviewed; panspermia; professionaljealousy; putinistas; science; space; xplanets
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Emphasis added.

Science journalism versus science.

1 posted on 05/24/2025 6:01:56 AM PDT by Salman
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To: Salman

Why would discovery of life on another planet be considered “good news”?


2 posted on 05/24/2025 6:04:40 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

I suppose that discovering life on alien planets undermines the Biblical narrative. Good news for some people.


3 posted on 05/24/2025 6:11:43 AM PDT by ChessExpert (The Democratic party must be destroyed.)
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To: Salman
Real Science....... Euclid photo


4 posted on 05/24/2025 6:27:46 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: Salman

E.T phone home.


5 posted on 05/24/2025 6:34:12 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Salman

It’s all about the Government Benjamins baby.


6 posted on 05/24/2025 6:34:24 AM PDT by Frank Drebin (And don't ever let me catch you guys in America!)
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To: Salman

Why does it matter if there is life on some planet in another galaxy zillion light years away? We have a hard time landing on Mars in our own planetary system only a few million miles away. Such a waste of energy. Focus on better life on earth. When our Sun transforms into a red giant, as all other suns in universe do, earth will be swallowed up by the expanding sun giant. Celebrate the life we have and channel energies towards improving life.


7 posted on 05/24/2025 6:38:12 AM PDT by Bobbyvotes (Only thing that scares me now is my age number. I am older than Biden, but in very good health!)
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To: ChessExpert

I can’t speak for every religious denomination out there—but most would have no problem with life on other planets, even intelligent life on other planets.


8 posted on 05/24/2025 6:39:29 AM PDT by cgbg (It was not us. It was them--all along.)
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To: marktwain

Well, if you have spent most of your career looking for life elsewhere in the universe and you think you have found such evidence, it would be good news to you. However, like most science journalism, this piece exaggerates greatly the significance of the find. Finding evidence for chemicals that, on earth, are produced by living organisms is not conclusive evidence of life existing. Those chemicals could have arisen via some unknown process that does not cvur on earth. Also, it is quite a giant leap from “there might be life on another planet” to “we are not alone”. That life might well just be simple bacteria-like single called organisms. “We are not alone” would seem to imply some form of intelligence, which is certainly not in evidence based on finding biologically- formed chemicals.


9 posted on 05/24/2025 6:41:15 AM PDT by stremba
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To: ChessExpert
I suppose that discovering life on alien planets undermines the Biblical narrative.

Not really, but clearly some atheists think this.

Keep in mind no one said it was evidence of intelligent life.

10 posted on 05/24/2025 6:44:09 AM PDT by Salman (Lasu Eŭropon bruli!)
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To: cgbg
Scripture does not categorically rule out the possibility of extraterrestrial beings not of this earth. God, the angels, and the devils are intelligent and extraterrestrial. But that does not cover the existence of other intelligent beings. There is a saying, where Scripture speaks, we speak. Where Scripture is silent, we are silent.

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that there are intelligent beings who are neither human nor supernatural. Christians believe in the doctrine of original sin, that the sin of Adam has corrupted his descendants. Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, came to earth as a human, lived a perfect life, and died to remit the sins of human beings who accept the offer of salvation. The questions then arise: did Jesus die for non-human sinners? Was there a need for for non-humans to be saved? Did their race start with an alien Adam, who committed an original sin?

11 posted on 05/24/2025 7:01:01 AM PDT by Wallace T.
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To: Salman

Possibly another case of going against the prevailing theory. If they continue to be attacked to the point of ruining their careers, then it is true.


12 posted on 05/24/2025 7:08:25 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: marktwain

Because potentially colonization could happen. Which means when this planet dies, which it will do, we could actually survive. Getting off the rock is the only goal humanity should have. But first we need to know where to go. Which means detecting life sustaining planets.


13 posted on 05/24/2025 7:12:59 AM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: Salman

I’m sorry, but this incredible universe of ours has trillions and trillions of stars and planets. It defies logic to assume that this is the only planet with life on it.


14 posted on 05/24/2025 7:18:06 AM PDT by Shady (Where did the 18% of GDP PLUS $37 TRILLION DOLLARS of OUR MONEY, Go?)
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To: Shady
... It defies logic to assume that this is the only planet with life on it.

But actually finding it is the trick.

15 posted on 05/24/2025 7:20:04 AM PDT by Salman (Lasu Eŭropon bruli!)
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To: cgbg

The beauty of all that is that God also created vast distance…..We will (as man) never venture out of our Solar System, let alone to another star or galaxy.


16 posted on 05/24/2025 7:22:06 AM PDT by Shady (Where did the 18% of GDP PLUS $37 TRILLION DOLLARS of OUR MONEY, Go?)
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To: cgbg
"I can’t speak for every religious denomination out there—but most would have no problem with life on other planets, even intelligent life on other planets."

It would make a big difference if the "intelligent life" on other planets taste like chicken, or if they think we taste like steak!

17 posted on 05/24/2025 7:30:05 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: cgbg
I can’t speak for every religious denomination out there—but most would have no problem with life on other planets, even intelligent life on other planets.

I believe that God created the Universe and all that’s in it. I’m sure not going to tell him how he should have done it and what he should have put in it. That’s way above my pay grade ;~)

18 posted on 05/24/2025 7:45:59 AM PDT by Ditto
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To: marktwain
Why would discovery of life on another planet be considered “good news”?

Because leftists atheists believe it helps their own religious cause.

19 posted on 05/24/2025 7:58:02 AM PDT by fso301
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To: Salman

Billions of galaxies with billions of star systems. Is there life on other planets? More than likely yes. Is that life intelligent beings? We’ll never know. Just remember…life also means plant life and mold. As for now…it stays in the realm of possibilities and science fiction.


20 posted on 05/24/2025 8:02:30 AM PDT by USAF1985 (Joe McCarthy is a hero...he was absolutely, 100% correct! (Let’s go Brandon!))
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