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Regardless of the official definition, the word “habitable” is highly subjective. Extremophiles like tardigrades can survive being frozen and/or completely dehy

Regardless of the official definition, the word “habitable” is highly subjective. Extremophiles like tardigrades can survive being frozen and/or completely dehydrated. A planet with an eccentric orbit like this one could hypothetically support species capable of entering some form of extreme hibernation during part of their year.

hajola 2y ago
While it's possible for conditions for life to emerge or sustain itself to be present beyond the habitable zone (e.g. there's likely a subsurface ocean orbiting the farthest plant from the Sun on Triton), afawk it is more probable that life forms in the habitable zone. That is the only one we have a data point for.
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  A sample size of one tells us it it possible, but nothing about what’s most likely.
  - hajola 2y ago
    Well, we also know where we haven't found signs of life. So from that perspective we have more data.
glenstein 2y ago
>Regardless of the official definition, the word “habitable” is highly subjective Well, one constructive way to take it out of the realm of subjectivity is to put forward a specific definition.
ziddoap 2y ago
>the word “habitable” is highly subjective. Sure, but not in the context of "habitable zone" which is a specific term of art in astrobiology.
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  > specific term of art... And that's fine, but when communicating outside the speciality, I'd really like to see some other term used. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/24/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-is-largest-in-recorded-history-in-u-s/77881467007/ https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025... for example says "Kansas tuberculosis outbreak is now America's largest in recorded history", where "recorded history" is apparently the CDC's "term of art" for "since 1950", which isn't what a layperson hears.
  - ziddoap 2y ago
    >And that's fine, but when communicating outside the speciality, [...]" The IAC, where this article is from, is the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (literally the "Institute of Astrophysics") That's about as far into the specialty as you can get.
    - ceejayoz 2y ago
      The IAC is communicating outside the speciality here, via a press release. That's why the article's breadcrumbs say "Home > Outreach > News". We saw the same issue during COVID - scientists talking to the general public often talk like scientists instead of science communicators, and that causes people to misunderstand. Fauci's "no evidence" (yet) masking prevents disease incorrectly becomes evidence masking can't prevent disease.
      - ziddoap 2y ago
        Not many uninterested laypeople are going to be browsing the IAC website for astrophysics news. People that are interested should probably familiarize themselves with the terminology commonly used in astrophysics. Once it makes its way to PBS Space Time, sure, maybe you avoid terms of art. Or explain the particular definition when it is first introduced. That's just my opinion anyways. I always try to familiarize myself with the common terms of art when learning about a new discipline.

hajola 2y ago

While it's possible for conditions for life to emerge or sustain itself to be present beyond the habitable zone (e.g. there's likely a subsurface ocean orbiting the farthest plant from the Sun on Triton), afawk it is more probable that life forms in the habitable zone. That is the only one we have a data point for.

ceejayoz 2y ago
A sample size of one tells us it it possible, but nothing about what’s most likely.
- hajola 2y ago
  Well, we also know where we haven't found signs of life. So from that perspective we have more data.

glenstein 2y ago

>Regardless of the official definition, the word “habitable” is highly subjective Well, one constructive way to take it out of the realm of subjectivity is to put forward a specific definition.

ziddoap 2y ago

>the word “habitable” is highly subjective. Sure, but not in the context of "habitable zone" which is a specific term of art in astrobiology.

ceejayoz 2y ago
> specific term of art... And that's fine, but when communicating outside the speciality, I'd really like to see some other term used. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/24/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-is-largest-in-recorded-history-in-u-s/77881467007/ https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025... for example says "Kansas tuberculosis outbreak is now America's largest in recorded history", where "recorded history" is apparently the CDC's "term of art" for "since 1950", which isn't what a layperson hears.
- ziddoap 2y ago
  >And that's fine, but when communicating outside the speciality, [...]" The IAC, where this article is from, is the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (literally the "Institute of Astrophysics") That's about as far into the specialty as you can get.
  - ceejayoz 2y ago
    The IAC is communicating outside the speciality here, via a press release. That's why the article's breadcrumbs say "Home > Outreach > News". We saw the same issue during COVID - scientists talking to the general public often talk like scientists instead of science communicators, and that causes people to misunderstand. Fauci's "no evidence" (yet) masking prevents disease incorrectly becomes evidence masking can't prevent disease.
    - ziddoap 2y ago
      Not many uninterested laypeople are going to be browsing the IAC website for astrophysics news. People that are interested should probably familiarize themselves with the terminology commonly used in astrophysics. Once it makes its way to PBS Space Time, sure, maybe you avoid terms of art. Or explain the particular definition when it is first introduced. That's just my opinion anyways. I always try to familiarize myself with the common terms of art when learning about a new discipline.