Hubble finds first organic molecule on extrasolar planet

A video from the Hubblecast series regarding the discovery of organic compounds on a planet orbiting another star. Date- 19 mar 2008. Source- http://www.spacetelescope.org/videos/html/heic0807a.html Related news release- http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/html/heic0807.html

'The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has made the first detection ever of an organic molecule in a planet orbiting another star. This breakthrough is an important step in eventually identifying signs of life on a planet outside our Solar System.'

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hubble
• space
• telescope
• exoplanet
• extrasolar
• system
• extraterrestrial
• methane

[Sigbarth]

no oxygen, no combustion

[bubbs0643]

I love science.

[koobz21]

hubblecast? i thought he said holocaust... british....

[German4footg]

when you say "Welcome to the hubble-cast" it sounds like "welcome to the Holocaust".

[saturninenight]

......that t-shirt. Must be a Bjork fan.

[farhmoha]

meeee-thane rofl

[baley7]

In those conditions (900 C) methane is in stable respect it's elements ( C + H2). So no cracking reactions here! at least not in the hot side of the planet.

[crubs83]

i suprised that the me-thane doesent break down into e-thane at that temperature. methane and water doesnt give you life anyway, life isnt as simple as "just add water to me-thane"

[trig666]

I thought methane was flamable, surely at the temp of the planet the methane would have burnt off?

[Chasehead]

At the beginning it sounds like he's saying "Welcome to the holocaust!"