New earth-like planet discovered. Can I ask a sciency question?

[Tinker]

New earth like planet discovered

How does teh presence of water = potential for life? How does life just start from water? Thank you

I am no scientist but surely the presence of water means that life can be sustained as everything needs water to live - thus the potential for life.

Hmm, but how does it get there in teh first place? How does it just start?

I don't think that is the implication though. The implication is that if there is water there may already be some form of life. We can identify the presence of water, but not the presence of life but the one may indicate that the other is present. Along with the fact that it's the correct distance from a sun so the right temp, the right sort of size etc

surely that is the question though Tinker? hard to believe that every creature on this earth started out as an amoeba! and where did that come from?

I thought this was quite exciting - even if it is 20.5 light years away!

wonder if they have a mumsnet on their planet?

Oh, I know water indicates that life may be sustainable and yes, it is the question . So, life starts from where? Asteroids, meteors hitting planet depositing stuff? What triggers it to start though? Waht are the current theories

I agree foxinsocks - it is exciting. I am fascinated by the idea of space. It simply seems unbeleivable that in all that immensity there is no other life.

The right combination of chemicals deposited as space debris, with the right temperature I suppose. And lots of time. It is totally mind blowing that we all came from nothing in the very beginning.

I know, very mind-blowing.

I have trouble getting my head round what we're having for tea for the week. This is way of my level................

the oldest and most primitive life forms are single cell organisms present in iron ore found at the north pole. they move so slowly through the metal they live in that it's possible they have life spans of thousands of years.

there are many other intermediaete single cell organisms.

the theory goes that rather than a living cell suddenly appearing, ordinary cells evolved over hundreds of thousands of years into independant living organisms.

facinating about the planet, although i always wonder why scientist presume that just because all earth life needs water to survive, why that would necessarily have to be the case elsewhere. surely life can evolve under any circumstances, it will just evolve into differant types of lifeform, possible so far removed from our own concept of what life is that we wouldn't recognise them even if we did see them through a telescope!

Oh thank you PT. Yes, have also wondered why the assumption about teh same form of life

They do seem to always assume life will be carbon-based for a start, and I'm not entirely convinced about that one.