𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗬𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗶 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗦. 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗮, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗛
In a cosmic twist, the famous James Webb Space Telescope, known for its famous photographs of different parts of space, has yet to discover another discovery. It detected gases in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18 b—found about 124 light-years away from us.
Making its discovery in 2015, astronomers have yet to receive news from the exoplanet. Astronomers say that these molecules found in the exoplanet—dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—are possible signs of alien life, making this the most promising biosignature ever spotted outside our solar system. While it doesn’t have definite proof yet, this discovery marks a major leap in our search for life beyond our planet—Earth.
Using its powerful infrared instrument, JWST analyzed starlight passing through the atmosphere of the exoplanet during transits. It spotted high levels of DMS and DMDS, gases on Earth known to come solely from marine microbes such as plankton. According to thetimes.co.uk, the detection reached 99.7% confidence—strong, but shy of the 99.99994% benchmark needed for certainty.
K2-18 b isn’t just any exoplanet; it’s a “Hycean world,” meaning it’s a hydrogen-rich atmosphere that is covering a vast liquid-water ocean. It’s about 2.6 times the Earth’s radius and 8.5 times its mass, orbiting within the habitable zone of a red dwarf. This makes it one of the best candidates alongside famous exoplanets such as Kepler-22b and Proxima Centauri B for finding life beyond our solar system.
Researchers emphasize that while DMS and DMDS are strong biosignatures, there might be non-living (abiotic) ways that these gases were made on the exoplanet.
This isn’t a definitive confirmation of life—but it’s a smart step forward. Even if we don’t find light right away, discoveries like this remind us that we’re getting closer—and that the universe might be more alive than we had ever imagined.
