Discover out extra about K2-18b and what these new findings may imply for the seek for extraterrestrial life under.
What Is K2-18b?
K2-18b is an exoplanet situated about 120 light-years from Earth within the constellation Leo. It was found in 2015 by NASA’s Kepler mission, which revealed that planets past our photo voltaic system are so widespread, they really outnumber stars.
Roughly between the scale of Earth and Neptune, K2-18b orbits inside the liveable zone of its star — the area the place situations may enable liquid water to exist. It’s categorized as a “Hycean” planet, a comparatively new class believed to have hydrogen-rich atmospheres and international oceans, making them robust candidates within the seek for extraterrestrial life.
May There Be Alien Life on K2-18b?
Probably — and scientists are intrigued.
In 2023, NASA’s James Webb Area Telescope detected carbon-bearing molecules corresponding to methane and carbon dioxide within the ambiance of K2-18b, each thought of potential indicators of organic processes. Extra just lately, the brand new examine led by Dr. Madhusudhan reported the detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) — compounds that, on Earth, are produced solely by dwelling organisms like marine phytoplankton.
Whereas the findings are removed from confirming alien life, they recommend that K2-18b could have the precise elements for habitability. “It’s in nobody’s curiosity to say prematurely that we’ve got detected life,” mentioned Dr. Madhusudhan at a press briefing on April 15. Nonetheless, he expressed cautious pleasure, including, “These are the primary hints we’re seeing of an alien world that’s probably inhabited. This can be a revolutionary second. It’s the primary time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a liveable planet.”
Is There Life Elsewhere within the Universe?
We don’t know for positive, however the odds are compelling. With billions of galaxies, every containing billions of stars and planets, most scientists imagine it’s statistically doubtless that life exists someplace past Earth.
