NASA’s James Webb telescope detects potential signs of life on exoplanet K2-18b

In recent times, there has been lots of talk about the possibility of living on another planet, and it has been discussed many times. For now, the current update is: scientists have detected potential signs of alien life on the exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

The planet's atmosphere shows traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), compounds on Earth produced solely by marine life, alongside methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, hinting at a hydrogen-rich environment over a liquid ocean.

While the findings are promising, the 3-sigma confidence level (99.7%) for DMS remains short of the 5-sigma threshold (99.9999%) required for definitive proof, meaning confusion still exists and leaving room for alternative explanations like unknown geological processes.

Now it is coming to light that researchers are planning 16–24 additional hours of JWST observations within the next 1–2 years to confirm the results, emphasising that no breakthrough has yet been declared. If confirmed, this discovery would mark the strongest evidence of extraterrestrial life to date, suggesting life may be more common in the universe than previously thought.

What observers have to say about K2-18b

Scientists have expressed both excitement and caution regarding the recent findings on exoplanet K2-18b. Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan, who leads the investigation at the University of Cambridge, described the detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a molecule produced on Earth only by living organisms, as a "profound moment," emphasizing that if DMS is truly present, it would be a strong indicator of potential habitability.

However, he also stated that these are preliminary observations, and that he could only say with about 50% certainty that DMS exists on K2-18b, highlighting the need for further data before making any conclusive claims.

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