ALBAWABA – Scientists at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy have discovered a distant planet known as K2-18b. Preliminary evidence suggests that the planet may show signs of possible life.
New evidence of possible signs of life on planet K2-18b
Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, the lead researcher at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy, and his team have discovered signs of molecules that are typically produced by simple organisms on Earth. This discovery hints at possible signs of life on the newly identified planet.
According to the team of scientists, more evidence and details are still needed to confirm the possible signs of life on planet K2-18b.
"This is the strongest evidence yet there is possibly life out there. I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years. The amount we estimate of this gas in the atmosphere is thousands of times higher than what we have on Earth. So, if the association with life is real, then this planet will be teeming with life," stated Professor Madhusudhan.
Notably, the planet K2-18b is about two and a half times the size of Earth and is located approximately 700 trillion miles away. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built — will be used to analyze the chemical composition of K2-18b by studying the light that passes through its atmosphere from the small red star it orbits.
The team of scientists discovered signs of molecules including dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS). These molecules are typically produced by bacterial organisms on Earth.
"If we confirm that there is life on k2-18b it should basically confirm that life is very common in the galaxy", Professor Madhusudhan concluded.
