Possible Signs of Alien Life Detected on Distant Planet, Scientists Say
In what could be a groundbreaking discovery, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have found strong evidence of possible life on a planet beyond our solar system.
The planet, called K2-18 b, is located about 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo. It lies in the “habitable zone” of its star – the region where liquid water could exist, which is essential for life as we know it.
K2-18 b
Researchers found two gases in the planet’s atmosphere – dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) – that on Earth are only produced by living organisms, particularly marine microbes like phytoplankton. This suggests that K2-18 b could be home to microbial life, although scientists caution that this is not proof of life yet.
“These are the strongest hints we’ve seen so far of a potentially inhabited planet beyond our solar system,” said astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge, who led the study.
K2-18 b is classified as a “hycean world” – a type of planet scientists believe may be covered in oceans and have hydrogen-rich atmospheres, possibly suitable for simple life. The planet is 8.6 times the mass of Earth and 2.6 times its size.
Earlier observations by JWST already revealed carbon-based molecules like methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. The new findings, with a 99.7% confidence level, add more weight to the possibility of biological activity.
However, scientists stress the need for caution. They plan to repeat the observations to confirm the results and study other possible explanations for the gases that don’t involve life. Right now, the presence of DMS and DMDS at such high levels can’t be explained by any known non-biological processes.
“We need to be open to all possibilities,” Madhusudhan said. “This could be a huge step in the search for life, but we’re not there yet.”
The findings were published in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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