Image: Recently, one of Saturn’s moons — Rhea — was discovered to have “an atmosphere of oxygen and carbon dioxide.” Image via NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute.
Has NASA discovered extraterrestrial life? My guess is probably not. On Thursday, NASA will “discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life“. To me, the press release reads like the announcement of a discovery or a new method that will improve or expand the chances of scientists finding extraterrestrial life.
Jason Kottke of kottke.org speculates that NASA has “discovered arsenic on Titan and maybe even detected chemical evidence of bacteria utilizing it for photosynthesis.” Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy is skeptical that exterrestrial life has been discovered and notes that the discovery is “most likely going to be something about conditions on another moon or planet conducive for life.” NASA’s news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 2.
