Carlos F.Velazquez

DMS, dimethyl sulfide, a substance that on Earth is only seen in the oceans and is produced by algae. However, that is a far cry from asserting that DMS is ONLY produced by living algae. But of course, extra terrestrial life enthusiasts become jubilant over such minute "evidence" as signs of DMS found on distant planets. However, the astrophysicist who made the discovery, Nikku Madhusudhan, says that basically it's too early to jump to conclusions.

Quote: "While the researchers could say with over 50 per cent confidence that DMS was present based on the data sent by the James Webb Telescope last year, Madhusudhan said it was far from "conclusive evidence." "

50% has a Sigma value of 0σ. Whereas a Sigma of 3σ, for example, means a confidence level of approximately 99.7%. See ChatGPT calculation in the comments.

An Earth-like planet? Tantalising proof of life on THIS exoplanet has scientists in 'shock'
wionews.com

Lyle Hancock Sr. adds:

I have difficulty reasoning a 50% confidence in a scientific inquiry. It seems a subjective term that has little meaning. In statistics, 0σ (50% confidence) is pretty much the same as a random guess. In practical terms, they may or may not have found DMS. The sensitivity and specificity of whatever instrument made the measurement must be quite low.

But it does make for a sensational article.

Tim adds:

While I know little about DMS and thus cannot speak on the subject this does remind me of the discovery of methane on Mars, and the big rush to say it was proof of Martian life. I pointed out to all the enthusiasts back then that methane is common in the solar system and exists on Titan and many other outer planets.

I also pointed out that methane on Mars suggested the planet was warming - thus confirming a solar cause for "climate change" much to the rage of the Gang Green.
Now I don't know the process of making this DMS stuff but I suspect thereare abiotic processes that can make it too and the principle of Occam's Razor says we should assume the simplest answer, which is not life. We've never found alien life, not in anything we've ever encounterred - meteors or on the Moon or on Mars. So we should assume this is abiotic until we prove otherwise. That's how science is SUPPOED to work.

Richard Cronin adds:

It’s a b.s.

The lowest Sigma value is 1. It assumes a normal bell curve data distribution with 68% of your data points fit beneath the bell curve. You can get 1 Sigma by averaging a scatter plot. It’s meaningless.

The very, very minimum to be considered significant is 2 Sigma, where 95% of your data lies beneath the bell curve.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/68–95–99.7_rule

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 09:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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