Could this exoplanet be inhabited?

Webb finds molecule only made by living things in another world::undefined

    • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.worldEnglish
      66·
      1 year ago

      Sigma is basically a representation of certainty that your result isn’t a statistical fluke. It comes from standard deviation in statistics but 1 sigma is 68% certain. 2 sigma is 95%. 3 sigma is 99.7%.

      By convention, astronomy uses 3 sigma for “significance,” meaning you almost definitely found something. Particle physics, since it’s usually done in controlled experiments, usually requires 5 sigma (99.99994%).

      It’s similar to margin of error in political polls.

    • FrostyCaveman@lemm.eeEnglish
      30·
      1 year ago

      It’s a number that statistically represents how strong the result is in the data basically. As far as I understand it, with astronomy the typical sigma value expected is 3

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
        10·
        1 year ago

        Technically, this is astrochemistry, not astronomy. I don’t know what the expected sigma value there is.

        • Womble@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          Whats less than 0 sigma? I kid but only a little Astrochemistry is fantastically difficult, it involves large networks of reactions, many of which have multiple orders of magnitudes of uncertainty on their rates. Different groups can tey to model the same conditions and end up with over a factor of 1000 difference in the abundences of key tracer speices.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            That’s why I’m positive but not excited yet. It’s a good sign. We need to see if detecting it can be replicated… although I’m not sure how to do that except with the Webb again.