Scientists Detect Potential Traces of Life on Exoplanet K2-18b

by Michał Rogucki
in !!!, *CS, *ES, *IT, *SI, *UK, Artificial intelligence
on 21 September 2023

Scientists in the United Kingdom and the United States have made an intriguing discovery regarding the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away from Earth. This planet, classified as a sub-Neptune, is about eight and a half times heavier than Earth and orbits a cool red dwarf star within the habitable zone.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, which is renowned for its ability to measure the colors of light in detail, researchers have successfully observed and measured the atmosphere of K2-18b. By analyzing the specific colors emitted by different elements and molecules, scientists are able to decipher the chemical makeup of a planet’s atmosphere.

This recent study has found significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of K2-18b, similar to the composition found on Earth, Mars, and Venus. However, scientists have also detected a small amount of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule that is typically associated with life on Earth. Marine life, including plankton, emits dimethyl sulfide in the form of flatulence.

While the presence of dimethyl sulfide on K2-18b could suggest the presence of life, researchers are cautious and recognize that it could also be linked to geological or chemical processes that are still not fully understood in gas planets such as K2-18b. Additionally, detailed measurements and collaborations with other telescopes and instruments will be necessary to strengthen the evidence.

This discovery highlights the ongoing search for life beyond our planet and the need for further exploration of exoplanets and their atmospheres. Instruments like the Very Large Telescope in Chile and new space telescopes under construction, such as Europe’s PLATO, will contribute to a better understanding of alien atmospheres. While the potential signs of life on K2-18b are exciting, there is still much more to uncover in the quest to answer the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe?

Sources:
– The Conversation: Brad EE. Tucker is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist at the Australian National University.