Astronomers in the UK have detected water in the atmosphere of an enormous planet that circles a star much beyond our own solar system. Reported in Nature, this comes as a proof of the ability to search and possibly detect signs of life in places beyond travelling (for now). It also reinforces the belief that water, which is essential for life as we know, is much more common in the universe than believed so far. The planet, which is a Jupiter-sized gas giant, circles a star identified by astronomers as HD189733, and is in the constellation of Vulpecula, 64 light years away from us. A bit larger than Jupiter, it passes so close to its parent star that it is too hot for life with surface temperatures around 1,000 C when night turns to day. The astronomers at University College, London, used NASA's earth-orbiting Spitzer telescope to watch the planet as it passed directly in front of its star during its 2.2 day orbit. While life here can be largely ruled out, the discovery spurs the community to continue with the search for life using similar methods of observation.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence has been dismissed by a large section of scientists as futile for various reasons. The universe is far too large to train our telescopes and radio frequencies and expect any messages. If a civilisation had been as advanced, they would have been here by now, surely, argue some. However, to most the assumption that we are unique is rubbish. In that case, there must be life teeming out there. Given the belief that life on earth was seeded from outside, the belief gets stronger. Whether one believes that life is a chemical fluke despite the many coincidences involved, or agrees that the odds of a cell forming is so unlikely even once, the quest to know for sure is what has dogged the human mind.
Did the laws of nature conspire to sow the seed of life on earth? Did they do it too often, in too many places? Is there a law that steers “matter to life”? From life we will necessarily have to proceed to intelligent life. And therein to a purpose for life. Either way the search is sure to benefit us ultimately. If there are others out there, we could learn from their lessons. And if we are alone, it is time we did something to conserve this cosmic treasure.
