Cloud that can hold water for ages

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/environment/2011/October/environment_October32.xml§ion=environment

(IANS)

21 October 2011

Astronomers have detected a huge cloud of water vapour, which can deliver a multitude of oceans to dry planets and is cold enough to form comets around a nascent solar system.

Scientists have found thousands of earth-oceans’ worth of it within the planet-forming disk surrounding the star TW Hydrae.

TW Hydrae is 176 light years away in the constellation Hydra and is the closest solar-system-to-be.

“This tells us that the key materials that life needs are present in a system before planets are born,” said Ted Bergin, study co-author and professor, University of Michigan.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. That stands to reason

After all, where did our planet acquire oceans-worth of water in the first place? It's not like we borrowed it from some passing planetoid, yunno.

[snooper2]

2. current working theories are early earth was bombarded by ice filled comets

does anybody watch the discovery channel :)

[Cirque du So-What]

4. That would have taken a buttload of ice balls

Besides, there have been dissenters on this subject for awhile:

"In short, icy cometary material probably has not been important in providing water for the earth's oceans, but there is little sure knowledge in this field."

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-do-we-know-about-the-1997-07-15

The Discovery Channel tends to remain mired in the realm of 'conventional wisdom.'

[Whisp]

3. I gotta pee...

[Cirque du So-What]

5. And to think...

that pee was once a component of ancient oceans :think:

[LiberalEsto]

6. Perhaps it's a living entity

The Water Goddess

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Wouldn't that make it TW Hydrate? nt