James Webb Telescope Founds Possible Life on Exoplanet K2-18b
In a groundbreaking development, scientists from Cambridge University have found the most promising evidence yet that life may exist beyond Earth. Their research, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), identified life-associated molecules like dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet named K2-18b. Although these findings are not yet confirmed at the highest scientific certainty, they represent a crucial step in the search for extraterrestrial life and open new frontiers in astrobiology.
Summary/Static | Details |
Why in the news? | James Webb Telescope Founds Possible Life on Exoplanet K2-18b |
Planet Name | K2-18b |
Location | 124 light-years away in Leo constellation |
Size | 2.6 times Earth |
Orbit | Red dwarf star |
Molecules Detected | DMS (Dimethyl Sulphide), DMDS (Dimethyl Disulphide) |
Method of Detection | James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) |
Possible Biological Source | Marine phytoplankton and bacteria (on Earth) |
Publication | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
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