“Our findings suggest that when the atmosphere is bathed in sunlight the phosphine is destroyed,” Clements said. “All that we can say is that phosphine is there. We don’t know what’s producing it. It may be chemistry that we don’t understand. Or possibly life.”
Either way, the discovery of the source or mechanism should prove highly illuminating to the study of exobiology. Pretty exciting, imo.
“If they really confirm phosphine and ammonia robustly it raises the chances of biological origin. The natural next thing will be new people will look at it and give support or counter-arguments. The story will be resolved by more data.”
He added: “All of this is grounds for optimism. If they can demonstrate the signals are there, good for them.”
Either way, the discovery of the source or mechanism should prove highly illuminating to the study of exobiology. Pretty exciting, imo.