A ‘New Neptune’ With Water, and Cyanide in Space

Astronomers discovered water vapor on exoplanet H ATP11B, a Neptune-sized planet in the Cygnus constellation, marking the smallest exoplanet with detected water. Despite its inhospitable conditions, this finding is significant due to the challenges in studying small exoplanets with thick atmospheres. Using spectroscopy, researchers analyze light passing through atmospheres to identify chemical compositions. Additionally, astronomers found complex molecules in the star-forming region Sagittarius B2, including normal and isopropyl cyanide, suggesting that complex chemistry necessary for life may originate in space.

Why is the discovery of smaller exoplanets with clearer skies important?

What implications does the presence of complex molecules in space have for the origins of life?