European Space Agency finds oxygen leaking from Solar System cometOctober 29, 2015 - 12:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Space Agency astronomers, with the help of the Rosetta spacecraft, have made a remarkable discovery that could fundamentally alter our understanding of how the solar system formed, Engadget reports. They have detected large amounts of pure oxygen (O2) leaking from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Oxygen is a pretty common element, but because it reacts so easily with other elements it's almost always found in mixed molecules like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) or water (H2O). Using the Rosetta's onboard sensors, the ESA confirmed that the amount of oxygen in the gas cloudsurrounding 67P was stable. That indicates that the element had become trapped in the comet's gravity as the comet formed an estimated 4.6 billion years ago. And the fact that it's still there challenges long-held beliefs that the solar system was once much hotter but has since cooled. However, were that true, the molecular oxygen in this comet would not be there. What's more, this oxygen could actually hinder the search for extraterrestrial life. Exo-fauna hunters view the presence of oxygen and methane as positive hints for life on distant planets since both molecules are often produced by primitive life forms. But if the oxygen on 67P is as old as the ESA thinks it is, that would mean the molecule was present in the early solar system, eons before life first took hold. Looks like we're going to need a better indicator for finding life beyond our planet. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |