Scientists have found something unusual in the atmosphere of a distant planet called K2-18b , and it’s getting a lot of attention. Using NASA ’s James Webb Space Telescope , they detected chemical signs that are often linked to life on Earth. While it’s too early to say anything for sure, the discovery has made researchers even more curious about the possibility of life beyond our planet.
The notable discovery involves two specific molecules– dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). On Earth, these are usually made by marine microbes and certain bacteria. Finding them in the atmosphere of K2-18b has raised the possibility that some form of life–or something similar–could exist there.
“This is a transformational moment in the search for life beyond the solar system, where we have demonstrated that it is possible to detect biosignatures in potentially habitable planets with current facilities. We have entered the era of observational astrobiology ,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today.
These findings came from the James Webb Space Telescope, which offers clearer and more detailed views than ever before. Because of this, scientists are now even more interested in studying K2-18b closely.
This isn’t the first time K2-18b has caught scientists’ attention. In September 2023, earlier observations with the James Webb Space Telescope found water vapour in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Along with that, carbon-based molecules like methane and carbon dioxide were also spotted– key ingredients that help scientists figure out if a planet might be able to support life.
K2-18b is a massive planet, about 8.6 times heavier than Earth, and belongs to a type of planet called a ‘ Hycean world ’ – a mix of the words “hydrogen” and “ocean.” These planets are thought to have deep oceans beneath thick, hydrogen-rich atmospheres, which in some situations could create the right conditions for life to exist.
“The only scenario that currently explains all the data obtained so far from JWST (James Webb Space Telescope), including the past and present observations, is one where K2-18b is a hycean world teeming with life,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today. “However, we need to be open and continue exploring other scenarios.”
While the discovery is fascinating, the researchers are approaching it with caution. According to Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the study, it's important to explore other possible non-biological explanations as well. More observations are still needed to confirm whether the detected molecules truly have a biological origin.
Madhusudhan said that with hycean worlds, if they exist, “we are talking about microbial life, possibly like what we see in the Earth's oceans.” Their oceans are hypothesized to be warmer than Earth's. Asked about possible multicellular organisms or even intelligent life, Madhusudhan said, “We won't be able to answer this question at this stage. The baseline assumption is of simple microbial life.”
“For reference, this is thousands of times higher than their concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, and cannot be explained without biological activity based on existing knowledge,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today.
The team is still carefully studying the data and plans to carry out more detailed research to find out where these molecules are really coming from. With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists are now trying to get a clearer picture of K2-18b’s atmosphere and understand what’s causing these unusual chemical signals. It’s too soon to say if these life points, but the findings highlight how much progress space science has made– and how much more there is to discover beyond our solar system.
The notable discovery involves two specific molecules– dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). On Earth, these are usually made by marine microbes and certain bacteria. Finding them in the atmosphere of K2-18b has raised the possibility that some form of life–or something similar–could exist there.
“This is a transformational moment in the search for life beyond the solar system, where we have demonstrated that it is possible to detect biosignatures in potentially habitable planets with current facilities. We have entered the era of observational astrobiology ,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today.
These findings came from the James Webb Space Telescope, which offers clearer and more detailed views than ever before. Because of this, scientists are now even more interested in studying K2-18b closely.
This isn’t the first time K2-18b has caught scientists’ attention. In September 2023, earlier observations with the James Webb Space Telescope found water vapour in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Along with that, carbon-based molecules like methane and carbon dioxide were also spotted– key ingredients that help scientists figure out if a planet might be able to support life.
K2-18b is a massive planet, about 8.6 times heavier than Earth, and belongs to a type of planet called a ‘ Hycean world ’ – a mix of the words “hydrogen” and “ocean.” These planets are thought to have deep oceans beneath thick, hydrogen-rich atmospheres, which in some situations could create the right conditions for life to exist.
“The only scenario that currently explains all the data obtained so far from JWST (James Webb Space Telescope), including the past and present observations, is one where K2-18b is a hycean world teeming with life,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today. “However, we need to be open and continue exploring other scenarios.”
While the discovery is fascinating, the researchers are approaching it with caution. According to Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the study, it's important to explore other possible non-biological explanations as well. More observations are still needed to confirm whether the detected molecules truly have a biological origin.
Madhusudhan said that with hycean worlds, if they exist, “we are talking about microbial life, possibly like what we see in the Earth's oceans.” Their oceans are hypothesized to be warmer than Earth's. Asked about possible multicellular organisms or even intelligent life, Madhusudhan said, “We won't be able to answer this question at this stage. The baseline assumption is of simple microbial life.”
“For reference, this is thousands of times higher than their concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, and cannot be explained without biological activity based on existing knowledge,” Madhusudhan said, as quoted by India Today.
The team is still carefully studying the data and plans to carry out more detailed research to find out where these molecules are really coming from. With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists are now trying to get a clearer picture of K2-18b’s atmosphere and understand what’s causing these unusual chemical signals. It’s too soon to say if these life points, but the findings highlight how much progress space science has made– and how much more there is to discover beyond our solar system.
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