Astrobiology June 2016 PMID 27096351

Toward a List of Molecules as Potential Biosignature Gases for the Search for Life on Exoplanets and Applications to Terrestrial Biochemistry.

S Seager, W Bains, J J Petkowski

Mentions

21
Peak: 5 in Oct 2020
across 4 sources since Aug 2016

Extended reach

331,022
potential audience

Total likes

6,861

Video views

267,294

Mentions per month

Aug 2016 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter13 posts
  • News4 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone suggests moderate enthusiasm and curiosity, with comments referencing potential signs of life on planets like Venus, and linking the research to broader questions about extraterrestrial life. For instance, discussions about life on Venus and the expansion to molecules in the interstellar medium show an interest in broad applications, while comments about methods and related papers indicate some engagement without deep technical analysis.

AgreementModerate agreement

Many discussions acknowledge the relevance of biosignature gases and the importance of the research, showing moderate agreement about its significance.

InterestModerate interest

Participants display curiosity by referencing related topics like life on Venus and interstellar molecules, indicating a moderate interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments involve referencing other studies, asking questions, and suggesting ideas, reflecting active but not deeply technical engagement.

ImpactNeutral impact

While some discussions hint at the broader implications of the research, most are exploratory rather than emphasizing immediate or transformative impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The paper discusses the search for biosignature gases in exoplanet atmospheres, emphasizing that multiple molecules produced by life could serve as indicators of extraterrestrial life, beyond the well-known gases like O2, CH4, and N2O.
  • It introduces a systematic approach to identifying potential biosignature gases by listing around 14,000 volatile molecules with up to six non-hydrogen atoms, highlighting that about a quarter of these are known to be produced by Earth-based life.
  • The list and approach aim to expand our understanding of which gases could indicate life on exoplanets, considering the diversity of planetary environments, and can also be applied to study terrestrial biochemistry.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Brian Mac Mághnais
@TheBrianMcManus · X

https://t.co/jpo9NOCem4

Oct 3, 2020 · 17 likes · 3 shares · 39,422 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@AntonioCruzNav @LatinXChem @laura_mckemmish Hi Antonio! Thanks for the questions! We are interested in potential biosignatures, i.e. molecules that could indicate the presence of life on a given planet (https://t.co/5iwpYBBu6M). However, we're planning on expanding to molecules of relevance in the interstellar medium too.

Sep 20, 2021 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@GroupQuintana @LatinXChem @laura_mckemmish Thanks! Our approach only reads the SMILES codes provided (available in this dataset https://t.co/5iwpYBBu6M) and translates them into molecular geometries. We don't generate the SMILES code for a given molecule.

Sep 20, 2021 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@JaviCarmonaGUV @UNSWScience Thanks! I can recommend these two papers: one on the explanation of biosignatures (https://t.co/gh6orf9tKj) and a current computational approach for obtaining spectra of atmospheric gases (https://t.co/kJxxTuP0GP)

Mar 4, 2020 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
Annalea
@citizengatsby · X

Fascinating. https://t.co/WTqZB2OX8K CC: @kozad86 @STEMthebleeding

Feb 26, 2021 · 15,548 followers View post →
Anselm Eickhoff
@anselm_io · X

Challenge: create a video on life on other planets or the origins of life *without* using stock footage from Iceland

Mar 22, 2021 · 3,099 followers View post →

All mentions

ᯅ
@teel0ck · X

Have We Found Life on Venus? https://t.co/YLjz3iuhQy via @YouTube

Apr 22, 2024 · 788 followers View post →
Jeff Holt
@JeffHol66856139 · X

https://t.co/yVBcZBN9fL

Aug 21, 2022 · 4 followers View post →
K
@politicalcathie · X

@redditSpacePorn Not sure about Mars, but it seems like life almost without doubt existed on Venus back in the day ⬇️ https://t.co/Lgro1cpACd

Jun 23, 2022 View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@AntonioCruzNav @LatinXChem @laura_mckemmish Hi Antonio! Thanks for the questions! We are interested in potential biosignatures, i.e. molecules that could indicate the presence of life on a given planet (https://t.co/5iwpYBBu6M). However, we're planning on expanding to molecules of relevance in the interstellar medium too.

Sep 20, 2021 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@GroupQuintana @LatinXChem @laura_mckemmish Thanks! Our approach only reads the SMILES codes provided (available in this dataset https://t.co/5iwpYBBu6M) and translates them into molecular geometries. We don't generate the SMILES code for a given molecule.

Sep 20, 2021 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
Jack Ford
@Corsiar9 · X

Have We Found Life on Venus? https://t.co/3tEoVPUWpQ via @YouTube

Jun 13, 2021 · 2,844 followers View post →
Anselm Eickhoff
@anselm_io · X

Challenge: create a video on life on other planets or the origins of life *without* using stock footage from Iceland

Mar 22, 2021 · 3,099 followers View post →
Annalea
@citizengatsby · X

Fascinating. https://t.co/WTqZB2OX8K CC: @kozad86 @STEMthebleeding

Feb 26, 2021 · 15,548 followers View post →
Drop Ship
@bugstomper2 · X

Have we found life on Venus? https://t.co/xmKwggWCkJ

Oct 26, 2020 · 440 followers View post →
La_Maudite
@La_Maudite · X

RT @TheBrianMcManus: https://t.co/jpo9NOCem4

Oct 3, 2020 · 3 shares · 87 followers View post →
Rajdeep (Raj) Luthra
@Rajdeep_Luthra · X

RT @TheBrianMcManus: https://t.co/jpo9NOCem4

Oct 3, 2020 · 3 shares · 618 followers View post →
Brian Mac Mághnais
@TheBrianMcManus · X

https://t.co/jpo9NOCem4

Oct 3, 2020 · 17 likes · 3 shares · 39,422 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Zapata T.
@jczapatat97 · X

@JaviCarmonaGUV @UNSWScience Thanks! I can recommend these two papers: one on the explanation of biosignatures (https://t.co/gh6orf9tKj) and a current computational approach for obtaining spectra of atmospheric gases (https://t.co/kJxxTuP0GP)

Mar 4, 2020 · 1 like · 267 followers View post →
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