The finding that would change everything: scientists believe to have found extraterrestrial life on this planet
Scientists have found evidence of chemical molecules on a distant planet that could be a sign of life.
A distant planet some 124 lightyears away has been found to be harbouring a molecule that, on Earth, can be created by living organisms, sending scientists and media outlets into a frenzy at what could be the first step in proving extraterrestrial life exists in the observable universe.
The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe took a dramatic step forward recently with the James Webb Space telescope’s analysis of k2-18b, an exoplanet in the habitable zone of it’s nearest star; signs of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) were detected, molecules that are created by bio-organisms on Earth.
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, says that it is the “most promising” signs of alien life ever recorded in human history. K2-18b is a planet 8.6 times as massive and 2.6 times as large as Earth, and orbits a red dwarf star known as K2-18.
While the study points out that telescopic evidence “provided a tentative hint of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a possible biosignature gas,”, it also adds that “more observations are needed to increase the robustness of the findings and resolve the degeneracy between DMS and DMDS and ”highlight the need for additional experimental and theoretical work to determine accurate cross sections of important biosignature gases and identify potential abiotic sources".
The research was carried out by a team of scientists at the University of Cambridge. Astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the research group, said in a statement that “a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have.”
“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,” Madhusudhan told the BBC. “So, if the association with life is real, then this planet will be teeming with life,” he added. “If we confirm that there is life on K2-18b it should basically confirm that life is very common in the galaxy.”
However, not everyone is screaming ‘alien’ right now. Some scientists have called for calm, saying that the molecules can be made without organic life, and that further research is needed in order to determine how excited we can get.
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