Scientists may have found what they call the strongest signs yet of possible life on a remote planet 2.6 times the size of Earth.
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy have detected two gases in the planet’s atmosphere that, on Earth, are produced only by living organisms, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton, a type of microscopic algae.
The abundant presence of the two gases—dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—suggests that planet K2-18b may be teeming with microbial life, the researchers said.
The discovery of the two gases is a strong indicator that biological processes could be present on the ocean-covered planet, but does not by itself constitute proof of life. Still, the researchers were excited by their discovery....
↧