The “failed star” mimics a basic sign of life, which complicates our search for foreigners

For scientists, the urgent problem with phosphine – a molecule is famous for as a possible sign of life – is not a lot of the place from which it came, but why don’t we think it should be. After a contract of research, it confirmed the result of the long awaited that our astronomical models are not a total bust. At least, now.

in sciences A paper published today, astronomers reported the first discovery of the signing of the strong phosphine on a brown dwarf-a type of hybrid from the planet’s stars more large than planets such as Jupiter but not large enough to maintain the hydrogen integration that indicates the stars. The prominent chemical models have long predicted that the cosmic entities with a gas atmosphere would be rich in phosphine, but the search years have shown almost nothing. Thus, the results give a closure of a problem that afflicted astronomers for at least a decade.

Equally important, the result has important effects on astronomy. The phosphine was discovered on this brown dwarf, called WOLF 1130C, is certain that it was formed through the Natural Natural Operations. The challenge is now to know how a object like this can be born a lot without life. Until researchers can explain this, no discovery of phosphine – whether on a gas giant or a rocky planet like Venus – can be considered a reliable sign of biology.

“The community was waiting for this,” he said Sarah SegerAstronomical physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology does not participate in the new work. Participate in composing the sea a Seminal paper From 2020 on The discovery of phosphine on Venus. On Earth, phosphine is mainly found as a secondary product for anaerobic life, or creatures that flourish without oxygen. Since the chemical environment on Venus does not lead to the natural composition of the phosphine, the astronomer has left in 2020 that astronomers are wondering whether the phosphine can come from the source of life – Biomedic cosmetics.

“It is very refreshing – yet!” Natalie CabrolThe Director of Research at the Carl Sagan Center at the City Institute added. Kaberol, who is also not inherited in the new study, told Gizmodo in a video call that the paper displays “clear and clear” data from phosphine on the brown dwarf – as the models predicted.

Wild phosphine chase

If the results occur ten years ago, this deal will not be great, Adam BorgaserThe lead author of the study and astronomical physicist at the University of California, San Diego, told Gizmodo. Chemical models have long supported the natural presence of phosphine on brown dwarves or external planets with a gas atmosphere. Which – which Jupiter and Saturn Phosphine -rich atmosphere also contributed to this assumption.

But after a contract to find zero (or rather, Many disputedBorgaser explained that the signs of phosphine, where the models expected to be, as the astronomy explained that they would become somewhat volatile. In fact, astronomers began to think seriously about reviewing the main models to explain the lack of phosphine.

“It was a real strange problem, because this molecule, which seems to be a little simultaneous,” said Borgser. “Therefore, it is actually surprising that we finally discovered it – in fact, discovered it abundantly in this appointed brown dwarf.”

Webb Search

Wolf 1130c is about 54.1 light years of Earth. The team chose this object for its slightly unusual composition, low metal, and relatively low surface temperature. The idea was to follow a slightly different approach, because previous surveys were already targeting brown dwarves with an appropriate temperature or composition, yet they did not see the “level of phosphine we expect”.

Their intuition turned to be correct. While studying spectral data from the James Web telescope Near infrared spectrumThe team noted a distinctive examination mark in their scheme – a feature of phosphate signatures. But the researchers swallowed their enthusiasm to double and trilogy, verify their work.

“We were like,” we have to make sure that this is completely true. “Fortunately, the team guarantees arithmetic model expert Who conducted a week simulator from the dwarf atmosphere, along with a world That was about phosphine.

“A mixture of all these things – in addition to the analysis we did (description) of abundance – we may realize that we have a very clear and mantle discovery,” said Borgas.

Not foreigners here

Once again, the discovery is not a vital prelude, which Burgasser, SEAAGER and Cabrol confirmed. Caprol said that this is often tangible in finding signs of strange life. There is no molecule in itself is necessarily vital. Instead, we are looking for “the development and environment of life.” In other words, the compound is qualified as a vital magazine only if the surrounding environment indicates that it cannot be formed through non -biological chemistry alone.

Cabrol explained that checking these environmental contexts will be easier for places like Venus, which are close enough to plan missions. “We do not have this luxury with external planets. When you don’t know the environment … you cannot claim that something is a biological distribution unless something is renewed in a way that nature cannot explain alone.”

For brown dwarves, phosphine is not biological. Sigger said these stellar bodies are hot and hydrogen, which lead to phosphine.

“Chemically, there is no life involved in it,” added Burgaser.

Home duty from the universe

However, the team is not completely sure how a lot of phosphine over Wolf 1130C has finished, although it explores some options. This may be due to the low lower minerals of the brown dwarf, or the local environment could lead to the accumulation of phosphine on the 1130C wolf. In general, researchers are not sure.

At the same time, “The inability of the models to explain all these sources indicate an incomplete understanding of phosphorous chemistry in the low temperature atmosphere,” the paper referred to.

It seems as if nature came and said: “Yes, here are more homework, a more difficult test question for you,” Burgaser joked. He added: “We do not even understand the natural chemistry of the phosphorous – until we get this correct, we cannot really rely on phosphine as a vital signing that is applicable.”

The next clear step is to search for other objects with similar supplies of phosphine, which can help fill the gaps that remain. Of course, it is completely possible to throw future discoveries for more confusion. In both cases, the results represent a new chapter in our understanding of the universe.

“But the process that will lead to that day itself is beautiful, because it provides human knowledge,” Kabrol said.