how come scientist can look at a white dwarf and define that there is a ring of "magnesium" around it but they

Question

cant look at a planet that is alot closer and tell if there is any kind of life on that planet

Answer 1

Life on planets does not give of distinct electromagnetic radiation bands. The source of distant light does. These bands are different for each element. Therefore, they can be used to identify the elemental makeup of distant stars.

OH MY GOD...DOES KNOWING THIS ANSWER QUALIFY AS A GEEK??

LOL

Happy Holidays!!

Answer 2

this is just partial true
first of all discoveries like the 'metallic cloud' around a distant dwarf star are bein made with a spectroscope, telling scientists the presence of specific simple elements on a wide scale

this can be done with earby planets too and was already done multiple times.
to get more into details it needs to have a probe orbiting such a planted, or at least having a flyby, doing a more detailed analysis.
The question of life can't still be sufficiently answered doing so.
they can just sniff for indications of possible reactions created by bacteria ..as a CLUE that there could be life.
like Mars-Express does ..finding substances in the atmosphere indicating that there is a chemical process going on that on earth is known as a byproduct of specific bacteria.

So we now have another piece of puzzle to solve, which is hopefully resoveld with a better rover on mars.

finding life in a spectrum would mean something like ET playing MP3's with his iPod or so ... no way

Answer 3

The Magnesium gives off a spectral colour signatrue. Like other elements. When light passes through a gas or a metal lke Magnesium. It blocks or absorbs some light. But, allows other bands or frequencies through. Spectral analysys. As for seeing if there's life on closer planets. Life is more complex. If there is a planet with mostly water on it. Then most of the life would be living in the water. Most of the life would be primitive little creatures like bacteria or some kind of jelly fish type of things. Most of life on our planet lives in water. So,water covers up the creatures living in it. If there's soil. Then, there would be bacteria living in the soil. You need a micriscope to see bacteria. If a planet was surrounded by a gas like Nitrogen and evapourated water in the form of clouds. It would be difficult to spot something. Ever seen an immage of Earth raken form outer space ?

Answer 4

i could say I consider numbers 4 and 5 a million) i in my opinion do no longer understand sufficient approximately this subject rely to agree or disagree. 2) If via "the music marketplace," you mean substantial record labels, sure. The have the desire to make money, no longer sell artists. 3) in basic terms by using fact the business employer creates them would not recommend that folk could pay attention to them. 4 and 5 are actual suitable. Even i'm answerable for form 5. i think of that rap sucks, yet that's by way of the fact what I hear is 50 Cent and Souljah Boy. If that's all that's available so a great way as rap is going, then yeah, it sucks. i'm specific there is greater useful stuff available, yet i'm in basic terms no longer digging for it. somewhat, there is an remarkable quantity of stuff available, yet you in basic terms could understand the place to get it. the authentic subject is people do no longer look previous the stable weight loss plan of crap that comes from the main suitable labels and radio stations.

Answer 5

The "ring of magnesium" is much larger, emits electromagnetic radiation which is detectable at cosmic distances, and is within the range of resolution of their telescopes, while life forms emit no such radiation and are much too small to be detected. Sophisticated chemical tests at the surface of planets will detect life if it is present at the site of the test and if it responds as expected to the chemical tests.

Answer 6

The question should be, Even IF they did detect life on some other planet, Would they tell us? NASA has sent probe after probe to various planets, however do we actually know the results, or just what NASA has told the media to tell us.

Answer 7

Scientist don't look through a telescope and say "Oh look! a white dwarf! oh and whats this...it has a ring of magnesium!!"
They use a lot of radation testing and stuff like that. -nods-

Answer 8

All of those robots that are suposed to be on mars are really in a big simulation in a seemingly abandoned warehouse in Montana. And the stars are really just light bulbs on a big dome and we all are just part of an exibit in a big zoo. and I am so sick this morning I do not feel like doing any thing but barfing and YAing...think I'll go barf now...maybe I soudn't have YAed and just stayed in bed

Answer 9

What is the definition of 'life'? 'Life' includes the smallest of organisms...scientists can theorize that water once existed on Mars....but how long ago, if micro-organisms still exist or if there is water underground, etc.--takes more than a telescope or other sensitive equipment.

Answer 10

There are wave links, and life must be a combination of various elements or it is only an element and is not life.

That is my help from Washington, D.C.