Webb Detects Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanet Atmosphere

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[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

I'd be more excited if they found oxygen - evidence of life.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Oxygen is a result of "our" form of life. So who knows?

Maybe silicon based life or whatever some clever xenobiologist could think about here is possible without it. I even remember reading something about methane-based life. Or sulfur-based like at these black smokers in our oceans. Completely without light.

Organic chemistry isn't my brightest candle though.

I'll ask again this week.

[–]HiddenFox 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Life is 100% possible without oxygen. In fact Earths first mass extinction was cause by a new organism that stated making oxygen.

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/23764/20190907/the-planet-s-first-mass-extinction-was-caused-by-the-production-of-oxygen.htm

[–]TheJamesRocket 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Life is 100% possible without oxygen

For simple bacteria, yes. But for complex, multicellular life, oxygen is required.