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James Webb Telescope Detects Possible Signs of Life on Exoplanet K2-18b
The search for extraterrestrial life has gained fresh momentum with a new development: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected potential biosignatures on the exoplanet K2-18b, located approximately 124 light-years from Earth. This marks a significant step forward in understanding whether life might exist beyond our solar system.
Researchers analyzing the planet’s atmosphere found evidence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—molecules known on Earth to be produced exclusively by marine life. These compounds were detected alongside methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, suggesting the presence of a hydrogen-rich atmosphere above what could be a liquid ocean surface.
While the detection of DMS is particularly intriguing, scientists caution that the current confidence level stands at 3-sigma (99.7%), which falls short of the 5-sigma (99.9999%) threshold typically required for scientific confirmation. This leaves room for alternate interpretations, including unknown geological or chemical processes that could produce similar signatures.
In response, researchers have scheduled an additional 16–24 hours of JWST observation time over the next one to two years to further validate the findings. Until then, the results are being treated as promising but preliminary.
Expert Reactions and Cautious Optimism
Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan, an astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the study, called the DMS detection a “profound moment,” noting that its presence—if confirmed—could indicate potential habitability on K2-18b. He acknowledged, however, that the evidence remains inconclusive, estimating only a 50% likelihood that the DMS signal is genuine.
“If confirmed, this would represent the strongest evidence of extraterrestrial life to date,” Madhusudhan said. “Our ultimate goal is to identify life on a habitable exoplanet, and that would transform our understanding of our place in the cosmos.”
The findings underscore a broader scientific belief: if life is confirmed on K2-18b, it could imply that life is more common across the universe than previously believed.
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