Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet
- Reference: 0177051621
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/04/17/0429213/astronomers-detect-a-possible-signature-of-life-on-a-distant-planet
- Source link:
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers found [1]significant concentrations of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in K2-18b's atmosphere . On Earth, these sulfur compounds are exclusively produced by living organisms, particularly marine algae. "It is in no one's interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life," said Madhusudhan, though he described the findings as "a revolutionary moment" and "the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet."
The team detected the signals during two separate observations, with the second showing an even stronger signature. Their analysis suggests K2-18b may be a "Hycean" planet -- covered with warm oceans and wrapped in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere -- with concentrations of dimethyl sulfide thousands of times higher than Earth levels.
Other scientists [2]remain cautious . Christopher Glein of the Southwest Research Institute suggested K2-18b could instead be "a massive hunk of rock with a magma ocean and a thick, scorching hydrogen atmosphere." Further observations with Webb and future NASA telescopes will be necessary to confirm whether K2-18b is truly habitable or inhabited, though planned budget cuts may impact follow-up research.
Further reading : [3]Water Found On a Potentially Life-Friendly Alien Planet (2019).
[1] https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/nx-s1-5364805/signs-life-alien-planet-biosignatures-exoplanet
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html
[3] https://science.slashdot.org/story/19/09/12/0226229/water-found-on-a-potentially-life-friendly-alien-planet
Re:Waste (Score:4, Informative)
It's European research. One problem there is that the security at university of cambridge would send the doge broccoliheads away and sending an invasion force to capture britain for this would be quite expensive.
As for JWST, Europe contributed 15% for 15% observation time
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly. I'd go a step further, fundamental research today is mostly without nationality. Our team has people from across the EU, a few US citizen, someone from Chile and a guy born in Peru who is now Japan-based.
The last thing we care about is where was your most recent passport issued, as there's more than enough passport nuisance at the airport anyway.
This too shall pass (Score:5, Informative)
> One problem there is that the security at university of cambridge would send the doge broccoliheads away,
That's not how Cambridge really works - or at least not when I was there. If start trying to force stupid things through first you get ignored and then if you persist in your foolishness you'll get ridiculed and ignored. When you are an institute that has been around for 800 years, suviving the Black Death, absolute monarchs, the English civil war and two World Wars, while developing a lot of the science, technology and thinking that underlies the modern world and training many political, legal and scientific leaders some jumped up politician running a former colony halfway around the world is nothing to get too concerned about because this too shall pass... probably by tea time given current form.
Re: (Score:2)
I heard about a joke from Cambridge.
An American visitor was walking through the university and came upon an immaculate lawn. The gardener was there manicuring the edges. The American approached the gardener and asked the secret to creating such a masterpiece. The gardener replied that it was easy. You simply cut the grass and roll it flat, weekly, for 800 years.
Re: Waste (Score:2)
Letting you keep your money is worse than wasting it on science. So more of this stuff please.
Is it better than Mars? (Score:2)
How long before Handsome Musk will claim he can send people there?
Re: Is it better than Mars? (Score:3)
I believe SpaceX could send someone to Mars this year. They would arrive as a corpse and with a catastrophic reentry velocity. But move fast and break stuff!
Huge Planet. Massive Gravity? (Score:1)
Prepare for the invasion of Herculean Oompah Loompahs . Judge me not by my size for my ally is gravity.
I hope it pans out! (Score:5, Insightful)
Even knowing we'll never go there, it would be comforting to know such a planet exists. (and if one exists, others probably do as well!)
Re:I hope it pans out! (Score:5, Funny)
Did somebody check if they have rare earth elements? Asking for a friend!
Re: I hope it pans out! (Score:2)
Slightly less rare today, perhaps.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, your friend should check it out, personally.
Re: I hope it pans out! (Score:2)
So now we have TDSDS?
Re: I hope it pans out! (Score:2)
*people who bring up TDS every chance they get.
Re: (Score:2)
No, but they have oil and no meddling, EPA agents.
Re: (Score:2)
I think a sure sign of intelligent life elsewhere is that none of it has tried to contact us.