NASA to Host News Conference on Discovery Beyond Our Solar System | Wed. Feb 22 1PM

[Seb]

Surprised to see no threads about it : https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-host-news-conference-on-discovery-beyond-our-solar-system

I'm trying not to hype myself for anything, but I've read a Facebook post of someone who got access to the embargoed news and he seems to be REALLY hyped up about it.

My guess is, they found things on an exoplanet that makes it reasonable to think there's life on it, such as oxygen in its atmosphere. Would be damn cool.

Click to read more...

 

[Cloned]

My guess?

They've detected a radio/other kind of signal originating from an exoplanet which may be of sentient origin.

 

[Seb]

My guess?

They've detected a radio/other kind of signal originating from an exoplanet which may be of sentient origin.

That would be ultra freaking nice

 

[hatterson]

I updated the title to reflect this is on Wednesday the 22nd not Tuesday.

I saw Tuesday mentioned several places so I thought it was today as well. Took a long time for me to realize why nothing was out in terms of specifics yet

 

[Seb]

I updated the title to reflect this is on Wednesday the 22nd not Tuesday.

I saw Tuesday mentioned several places so I thought it was today as well. Took a long time for me to realize why nothing was out in terms of specifics yet

Oh crap you're right, I somehow thought we were monday.

 

[Seb]

https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-space-exoplanet-preview-sara-seager/?ftag=COS-05-10aaa0b&linkId=34695486

We've seen the research, and while we can't share details yet, let's just say it could very easily provide us with new settings for many future works of science fiction.

This is very interesting, the guy I mentioned who posted on Facebook said something similar. He said "Hint: Denis Villeneuve will have work for the next 50 years."

 

[mouser]

Best guess I've seen so far is detection of liquid water or some atmospheric details of the third TRAPPIST-1 planet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRAPPIST-1d

 

[Seb]

Best guess I've seen so far is detection of liquid water or some atmospheric details of the third TRAPPIST-1 planet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRAPPIST-1d

I feel like this is the kind of news we will get tomorrow, but these 2 comments about science fiction really don't make sense in that case. It might be something crazier than we expect, which is thrilling.

 

[Seb]

According to this, the news will be about 4 newly found exoplanets : http://nasawatch.com/archives/2017/02/spitzer-discove.html

I fail to see why it would require a press conference and how it can relate to the comments about redefining science fiction.

 

[mouser]

Says the new planets are all orbiting TRAPPIST-1 as well. So 7 earth-sized worlds possibly in the habitable zone around one sun. That's sci-fi material.

 

[Seb]

But I've read there already found 3 exoplanets in the habitable zone around that sun... I get that it's 4 more and it makes it to an impressive number but I fail to see how that new information is worth the current hype and how it redefines science fiction as opposed to 3 exoplanets.

 

[jdhebner]

My guess is this exciting news will be retracted in 8 months due to experimental error.

 

[LT]

Someone on Reddit did some digging and it seems as though several of the experts who will be at this announcement do research on exoplanet atmospheres. They were speculating that it likely has something to do with that, based on who will be there.

No matter what, don't get your hopes up. Something big for the scientific community may not make for particularly exciting news to the general public. Regardless, I'm excited to see this.

 

[Seb]

Starts now : https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public

 

[EC09]

One thing I have always wondered... theoretically, could there be humans elsewhere in the universe?

 

[Cloned]

This is really awkward lol.

You're telling me this Asian chick holds a senior position in their communications department?

 

[Knave]

This is really awkward lol.

You're telling me this Asian chick holds a senior position in their communications department?

I think the table that's too small for the group announcing their findings is much more awkward and hilarious.

It's like everyone's in highschool or something and they just grabbed a table they could use.

 

[Seb]

Did I hear right? According tho their readings, one of the planets in the habitable zone might be rich in water?

 

[Knave]

Did I hear right? According tho their readings, one of the planets in the habitable zone might be rich in water?

Yes. They said mass/density of one suggested rich in water. Edit: I forget if it was habitable zone or not. I don't think he stated either way.

 

[Cloned]

I think the table that's too small for the group announcing their findings is much more awkward and hilarious.

It's like everyone's in highschool or something and they just grabbed a table they could use.

Yeah that too.

Guess all the budget cuts at NASA finally caught up.

But seriously, billions of dollars in funding and they put up a video that looks like a 1990's high school educational video about puberty?

 

[Cloned]

I'm calling it: Hostile aliens on TRAPPIST-1G.

Don't go looking, they'll find us.

 

[Knave]

The interviewer/host's voice hasn't changed at all this whole time. I'm bothered.

 

[discostu]

I forget the exact phrasing, but the comment early about "when, not if" for finding evidence of life seems like the big takeaway.

I'm not super knowledgeable about this stuff other than having a toddler who is pretty space obsessed, but, this does seem pretty huge.

 

[Danko]

I don't think it's such a major find...we have to develop some sort of drive that would actually get us there

 

[Jeffrey]

Yeah that too.

Guess all the budget cuts at NASA finally caught up.

But seriously, billions of dollars in funding and they put up a video that looks like a 1990's high school educational video about puberty?

Substance over form.

I don't care about the look of the conference but the findings behind their research.