A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery, suggesting the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life on a massive planet called K2-18b. Located 120 light-years from Earth, K2-18b orbits a star and possesses an atmosphere that is home to an abundance of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule only found in living organisms such as marine algae.
The discovery was made using data from the James Webb Space Telescope, which allowed scientists to analyze the chemical composition of K2-18b’s atmosphere. The team, led by astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan, detected two molecules that are key indicators of life: dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide.
“We have spent an enormous amount of time just trying to get rid of the signal,” said Dr. Madhusudhan. “The signal stayed strong, and we concluded that K2-18b may harbor a tremendous supply of dimethyl sulfide in its atmosphere, thousands of times higher than the level found on Earth.”
While this finding is exciting, other researchers caution that much more research needs to be done before conclusions can be drawn about the habitability of K2-18b. Laboratory experiments and further observations are necessary to confirm or rule out the presence of life.
The discovery highlights the importance of continued space exploration and investment in scientific research. “We’re just starting to understand the nature of these exotic worlds,” said Matthew Nixon, a planetary scientist at the University of Maryland.
However, there is concern that funding cuts to NASA’s science budget could impact future research on K2-18b and the search for life elsewhere. As one researcher noted, “the search for life elsewhere would basically stop” if funding is eliminated.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html