Technologies
Webb Finds Potentially Habitable Exoplanet Might Be an Ocean World
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope paints an enthralling picture of a planet that could be a prime place to look for evidence of life.
The next time you gaze at the Leo constellation, take a moment to contemplate K2-18 b, a fascinating planet there that has scientists wondering if it could harbor life. New data from the James Webb Space Telescope gives us a scintillating vision of an exoplanet that may be covered in a liquid water ocean.
K2-18 b gets its name from host star K2-18, which is located about 120 light-years from us. That’s not terribly far in space terms, but we won’t be popping over there for an in-person visit anytime soon. K2-18 b orbits in the habitable zone of its star, a region where liquid water could be present on the planet. The exoplanet may be what’s known as a Hycean world, one that is covered in water with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. The name is a combination of «hydrogen» and «ocean.»
Astronomers from the University of Cambridge identified Hycean planets as a new class of habitable planet in 2021. The researchers encouraged investigating these worlds for biosignatures — evidence of life — as we continue our search for life beyond Earth.
«Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations,» said University of Cambridge astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan, lead author of a paper on the Webb results (PDF). This is where Webb’s powerful instruments come in.
Webb is building off observations made by the venerable Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble already discovered water vapor in the atmosphere of K2-18 b. Webb has now detected carbon-bearing molecules methane and carbon dioxide in K2-18 b’s atmosphere. NASA said the detection of those molecules combined with a shortage of ammonia supports the idea the planet is hiding an ocean under its atmosphere.
Methane and carbon dioxide aren’t the only molecules worth getting excited about. The telescope may also have detected dimethyl sulfide, but follow-up work from Webb will be needed to confirm it. «On Earth, this is only produced by life. The bulk of the DMS in Earth’s atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments,» said NASA.
K2-18 bis 8.6 times as massive as Earth, but it’s less massive than Neptune. We have nothing quite like it in our own solar system. «This lack of equivalent nearby planets means that these ‘sub-Neptunes’ are poorly understood, and the nature of their atmospheres is a matter of active debate among astronomers,» said NASA.
Webb’s data so far is a reason for excitement about K2-18 b and its potential to host life, but it’s too soon to celebrate. NASA cautions that an ocean on a planet like this might be too hot to be habitable.
Webb is a joint project from NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. It launched in 2021 and has already reshaped our understanding of the universe in the short time it’s been in service. The early Webb data on K2-18 b is just the beginning. Researchers will use Webb to scrutinize the planet to better understand its atmosphere and potential for habitability.
«Our ultimate goal is the identification of life on a habitable exoplanet, which would transform our understanding of our place in the universe,» said Madhusudhan.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for May 20, #443
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 443 for May 20.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle reminds me that I haven’t had a meal in a fancy restaurant in some time. Maybe it’s time to make a reservation. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Oh, of course!
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Elegant eats.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- SITE, FINE, SINE, DINE, PEAS, TEEN, PEER, STEEP, DEER, SEED, SEEN, POET, TREE, NOPE, SEES.
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- SOUP, SALAD, CHEESE, ENTREE, DESSERT, APPETIZERS
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is FINEDINING. To find it, start with the F that’s three letters down on the farthest row to the left, and wind across.
Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for May 24, #713
Hints and answers for Connections for May 24, #713.
Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections puzzle has a fun variety of categories. The purple one appeals to my English major heart. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.
The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Goo-goo.
Green group hint: Not shirts.
Blue group hint: City that never sleeps.
Purple group hint: Acclaimed writers.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Baby gear.
Green group: Kinds of pants minus «s.»
Blue group: New York sports team members.
Purple group: Black women authors.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is baby gear. The four answers are bib, bottle, monitor and stroller.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is kinds of pants minus «s.» The four answers are capri, jean, jogger and slack.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is New York sports team members. The four answers are Jet, Met, Net and Ranger.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is black women authors. The four answers are Butler, Gay, Hooks and Walker.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, May 20
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 20.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is a fun one, and now I’m singing the song from 1-Across in my head. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: «Pink ___ Club» (Chappell Roan hit)
Answer: PONY
5A clue: Instrument that might be made with a comb and wax paper
Answer: KAZOO
6A clue: How bedtime stories are often read
Answer: ALOUD
7A clue: On edge
Answer: TENSE
8A clue: Short Instagram video
Answer: REEL
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Less colorful
Answer: PALER
2D clue: Layer of the upper atmosphere
Answer: OZONE
3D clue: Totally pointless
Answer: NOUSE
4D clue: Hit a high note in a high place, perhaps
Answer: YODEL
5D clue: Kit ___ bar
Answer: KAT
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
-
Technologies2 года agoTech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года agoBest Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года agoTighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года agoVerum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года agoGoogle to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года agoBlack Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года agoOlivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года agoiPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow