Another “Earth-Like” Planet Found? Or More Fake Science News?
Discovery Institute, fake news, Guillermo Gonzalez, habitability, habitable zone, ID The Future, Jay Richards, journalism, K2-18b, liquid water, News Media, Physics, Earth & Space, Podcast, press release, Privileged Planet, rain, red dwarf, science, science writers
“Of course some science writers really jumped on this, and excitedly thought, ‘Oh! Liquid water, within the habitable zone’” — and here he gasps — “‘therefore, LIFE!’” So says astronomer and Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Guillermo Gonzalez about recent media reports of yet another alien “Earth-like” planet, this one romantically named K2-18b, orbiting a red dwarf star 124 light years from us. Sample headline, “It’s got water and the right temperature: Planet found that could support life.” Rain may bespatter the surface (if it has a solid surface, which seems doubtful) of K2-18b. “That’s all you need!” exclaims Jay Richards, who co-authored Privileged Planet with Gonzalez. The two have fun with the science news on a new episode of ID the Future. Despite the hype, Dr. Gonzalez concludes, “This is definitely not…