That has big implications for extraterrestrial biology, since life is based on carbon, and methane - which is made up of carbon and hydrogen - is a byproduct of metabolism. The planet's carbon-heavy atmosphere could retain heat and light, providing energy for life to get started and thrive. That life would have to survive on comparatively little oxygen and water, and would have to be very tolerant of methane.

　　这对于地外生命学来说意义重大。因为生命建立在碳的基础上，而由碳和氢构成的甲烷是新陈代谢的副产品。大气中高浓度的碳可以留住光和热，为生命的出现和茁壮成长提供能量。这些生命要再氧气和水相对较少的环境下生存，而且要能够忍受甲烷。

　　As for some of the planets formed along with WASP-12b, they could easily be smaller, with rocky formations made not of silica, like Earth's, but of graphite or - given enough time and enough pressure - precious diamonds.

　　而和WASP-12b一起形成的另外一些行星很可能体积更小，岩层不像地球那样由硅石构成，而是由石墨或者——如果有充足的时间和压力——钻石这样的珍贵材料构成。