Definitions range from "chemicals with carbon-carbon and/or carbon-hydrogen bonds" to "any chemical with carbon in it." It's important to note that, while living things are largely made up of organic compounds, organic compounds don't necessarily mean living things.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Also since carbon-based life is all we are currently aware of, but we only have one example to go from, living things does not necessarily mean carbon.

[–] Microw@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That makes a lot of sense. So most likely they found something with Carbon and dont want to specify in public

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago

Pretty deep in the article, I found the passage

...scientists were able to directly detect and analyze spectral features of non-water-ice materials on Ganymede’s surface. Some of these non-water-ice materials include hydrated sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and possibly even aliphatic aldehyde.

It's less that they don't want to say, and more that this is more or less meaningless to anyone who isn't a chemist

[–] Zellith@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

What is organic compounds in science terms?

organic compound, any of a large class of chemical compounds in which one or more atoms of carbon are covalently linked to atoms of other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. The few carbon-containing compounds not classified as organic include carbides, carbonates, and cyanides.

Personally I don't think it's ever once explained in any science or news shows. Perhaps its because it gets the imagination going. (because.. It's organic!)

[–] tiredofsametab@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Compounds which are not inorganic.

[–] alansuspect@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

The flyby video is awesome!