New analysis of data from the James Webb Space Telescope has raised doubts on the recent claim of detecting life-associated gases on K2-18b. An independent reanalysis by a University of Oxford researcher suggests that there is too much noise in the data to draw conclusions about the planet’s atmosphere.
The original claim was made last week, with a team from the University of Cambridge announcing what they described as “the strongest evidence yet” for life on a distant planet outside our solar system. However, a quick reanalysis by Jake Taylor found that the data does not support this conclusion.
Taylor used a simple method to look for signs of gas molecules in K2-18b’s atmosphere and found that the signal was consistent with a flat line, indicating too much noise to draw conclusions. He emphasized the need for more observations from the telescope to confirm or rule out any biosignatures.
Laura Kreidberg, an expert on exoplanet atmospheres, also expressed concerns about the original claim, stating that the analysis relied on assumptions and did not meet the standard for a robust detection of life.
Despite the new reanalysis, researchers involved in the original study are confident in their findings. However, experts agree that more scrutiny is needed to avoid spreading misinformation and eroding public trust in scientific discoveries.
The full dataset from the James Webb Space Telescope will become available on April 26th, allowing more astronomers to review the data and weigh in on the debate. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible science communication and the need for rigorous testing of research claims.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/g-s1-62610/biosignatures-k2-18b-james-webb-exoplanet-doubt