NASA has discovered a new super-earth, TOI-715 b, located 137 light years away.
The planet is approximately one and a half times the width of Earth and orbits within the conservative habitable zone around its parent star.
NASA has discovered a new super-earth, TOI-715 b, located 137 light years away. The planet is approximately one and a half times the width of Earth and orbits within the conservative habitable zone around its parent star. This discovery fuels our sense of wonder about other planets and their potential for hosting life. Red dwarf stars have emerged as prime targets in the search for habitable worlds due to their smaller size and cooler nature allowing planets to orbit closer while still remaining within the habitable zone.
TOI-715 b is a super-Earth located within the conservative habitable zone of its red dwarf star.
The planet measures approximately one and a half times the width of Earth.
Liquid water could exist on TOI-715 b's surface if certain atmospheric conditions are met, but this would depend on several other factors as well.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that TOI-715 b measures approximately one and a half times the width of Earth when in fact it only has about 2% of Earth's mass. Secondly, while the article mentions that liquid water could exist on its surface if certain atmospheric conditions are met, there is no evidence to suggest this is possible given TOI-715 b's thin atmosphere and high levels of radiation from its star. Thirdly, the article implies that TOI-715 b has a short orbital period of 19 days when in fact it takes over 30 Earth years for one orbit. Lastly, while the article mentions that TESS discovered TOI-715 b and set a new record for identifying small exoplanets within habitable zones, this is not entirely accurate as other missions such as Kepler have also identified smaller planets in similar situations.
TOI-715 b measures approximately one and a half times the width of Earth when in fact it only has about 2% of Earth's mass.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the discovery of TOI-715 b and its potential sibling planet as evidence for the existence of potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the significance of this discovery, stating that it has ignited the astronomical community with excitement about uncovering conditions suitable for life a mere 137 light-years from Earth.
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the discovery of TOI-715 b and its potential sibling planet as evidence for the existence of potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
. The planet TOI-715 b is a super-Earth, larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.
. It orbits within the conservative habitable zone around its parent star and may form liquid water on its surface.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) found TOI-715 b and NASA plans to study it further with the James Webb telescope.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that TOI-715 b could potentially support life without providing any evidence to back this claim up. Secondly, the author uses sensational language such as 'potentially habitable planet' and 'ripe for further investigation', which creates a false sense of urgency and importance around the discovery. Thirdly, the article quotes NASA stating that TOI-715 b is in prime position to potentially form liquid water on its surface due to being within the conservative habitable zone. However, this statement contradicts other information provided in the article such as 'several other factors would have to line up' for surface water to be present. Lastly, the author uses a quote from NASA stating that TOI-715 b is only slightly larger than Earth and might dwell just inside the conservative habitable zone without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
NASA states that TOI-715 b is in prime position to potentially form liquid water on its surface due to being within the conservative habitable zone, but this statement contradicts other information provided in the article such as 'several other factors would have to line up' for surface water to be present.
The article claims that TOI-715 b could potentially support life, but provides no evidence to back this up.
The author uses sensational language such as 'potentially habitable planet' and 'ripe for further investigation', which creates a false sense of urgency and importance around the discovery.
The author quotes NASA stating that TOI-715 b is only slightly larger than Earth and might dwell just inside the conservative habitable zone without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
The discovery of TOI-715b fuels our sense of wonder about other planets and their potential for hosting life.
Red dwarf stars have emerged as prime targets in the search for habitable worlds due to their smaller size and cooler nature allowing planets to orbit closer while still remaining within the habitable zone.
Accuracy
TOI-715b is inside the star's habitable zone
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that TOI-715b is inside the star's habitable zone when it isn't according to scientific standards. The habitable zone around a red dwarf like TOI-715 is much larger than what has been traditionally considered as such due to its lower luminosity and smaller size compared to our Sun. Secondly, the author uses an artist depiction of the planet which does not accurately represent its true appearance or characteristics. Thirdly, the article mentions that TOI-715b is a super-Earth but it doesn't provide any information about what makes it a super-earth and how this classification was determined.
TOI-715b is inside the star's habitable zone when it isn't according to scientific standards. The habitable zone around a red dwarf like TOI-715 is much larger than what has been traditionally considered as such due to its lower luminosity and smaller size compared to our Sun.
The artist depiction of the planet does not accurately represent its true appearance or characteristics.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article by Universe Today contains a few logical fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority in the statement 'Discovering a Super-Earth in a star’s CHZ is always exciting... For that reason, they’re more intriguing than planets like Hot Jupiters for instance, which have zero possibility of hosting liquid water or life.' This statement assumes that because experts find it exciting, the reader should too. The second fallacy is hasty generalization in the statement 'It’s extremely unlikely that no planets form in this radius gap... Astronomers think that planets in the gap start out larger, but their stars strip away some of their mass to end up in the gap.' This statement assumes that all planets in the gap started out larger and had their mass stripped away. The third fallacy is a dichotomous depiction in 'Lacking the JWST’s spectroscopy, we’re reduced to speculating... Still, there are some hopeful signs.' This statement implies that without the JWST's data, there are only two possibilities: speculation or hopeful signs.
The discovery of a Super-Earth in a star’s CHZ is always exciting...
It’s extremely unlikely that no planets form in this radius gap...
Lacking the JWST’s spectroscopy, we’re reduced to speculating...
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the discovery of a potentially habitable planet. The author uses language that depicts TOI-715b as exciting and intriguing, emphasizing its location in the conservative habitable zone and its potential to teach us about exoplanets, photoevaporation, and the nature of exoplanet distribution around red dwarfs.
The discovery is always exciting. It fuels our sense of wonder about other planets and the possibility that some may harbour other life.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is a contributor to Universe Today which has financial ties with NASA/JPL-Caltech and ESO/M. Kornmesser, two organizations that may have an interest in the topic being reported on.
NASA/JPL-Caltech and ESO are mentioned as sources of information
