Stephen Schmidt
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spschmidt.bsky.social
Stephen Schmidt
@spschmidt.bsky.social
PhD student at Johns Hopkins University. I'm interested in finding out more about stars and exoplanets by how they interact with each other. I also like taking pictures of things. Check out my website: spschmidt.github.io
I now have a website! spschmidt.github.io
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Stephen P. Schmidt | Exoplanet Astrophysicist
spschmidt.github.io
July 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Stephen Schmidt
"Not strong evidence" - @spschmidt.bsky.social

"Almost certainly not life" - @tessafisher.bsky.social

In which I round up some Community Response on the exoplanet biosignature paper from last night 🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Signs of life on a distant planet? Not so fast, say these astronomers
Bold claims of ‘biosignature’ molecules trigger an outpouring of scepticism.
www.nature.com
April 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Stephen Schmidt
𝗡𝗼, 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝟮-𝟭𝟴𝗯'𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

K2-18b is back in the news, now with a bold claim that biosignature molecules (DMS and/or DMDS) have been 'detected at 3σ'.

Most exoplanet astronomers are extremely sceptical about these claims, let's see why (1/n).

🔭🧪🪐 #exoplanet
April 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Just submitted something fun to the arxiv!
January 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Stephen Schmidt
This is irresponsible. Irresponsible science and irresponsible science reporting. 🧪🔭🪐

(apparently the paper isn't even in pre-prints yet, but I can assure you life was not found on K2-18b or any exoplanet yet. Every claim by this group does not hold up to scientific scrutiny)
May 1, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Just submitted my second first-author paper!!! :D and just in time for me to leave for extreme solar systems too 😅
March 9, 2024 at 4:06 AM
🤔
February 29, 2024 at 3:19 AM
Shenandoah national park!
October 26, 2023 at 6:06 AM