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Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made an unprecedented discovery: chemical signatures in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18 b, located approximately 124 light years away in Leo, have been detected using JWST data. This discovery marks an impressive advancement in our search for life beyond Earth. Read news & breaking headlines around this news item on Reuters + The Guardian (+2 each).
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Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge’s research team discovered dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), two compounds exclusively produced by biological processes – such as marine microorganisms like phytoplankton – on Earth. Their presence indicates the possibility of biological activity on K2-18 b, although further observations will need to be completed before concluding this hypothesis. Latest news & breaking headlines The Guardian
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K2-18b is classified as an exoplanet known as a “hycean,” characterized by a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and vast, planet-wide oceans, with approximately nine times Earth’s mass and situated within its red dwarf star’s habitable zone, where conditions may allow liquid water to exist. The Washington Post
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The JWST also discovered methane and carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere, lending support for life-supportive environments. Furthermore, its absence lends credence to biological explanations for detected compounds.
Though many scientists were delighted by this discovery, caution must be exercised. While the presence of DMS and DMDS compounds is certainly intriguing, non-biological processes could potentially produce them under certain conditions as well. Therefore, further observations and studies are required in order to rule out alternative explanations and to establish life. arXiv +3
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The discovery demonstrates how powerfully the JWST can probe exoplanet atmospheres, and brings humanity one step closer to answering one of mankind’s oldest questions – Are We Alone in the Universe?
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