Shocking Discovery Made by NASA Scientists: Traces of Life Found in a Planet
During the immense silence of space, and several of the stars flickering in the edges of darkness like a whisper, a new discovery has made waves in the space community. It could change almost everything you thought you knew about life in the universe. This incredible revelation being made by NASA scientists in partnership with researchers from the University of Cambridge, is that scientists have discovered possible signs of life on an exoplanet called K2-18b.
This isn’t fiction. This is real. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was used by astronomers in finding key molecules of the atmosphere of K2-18b that may point to biological processes. K2-18b is one of the most promising leads for the age-old question scientists have been combating for the last several decades, “Are we alone in the universe?”
The Chemical Clue: Dimethyl Sulfide
Let’s break it down. K2-18b is located roughly 124 light-years away from us in the constellation Leo and orbits in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, which has conditions that could permit liquid water to exist.
What makes this discovery so momentous is the identification of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). DMS is produced nearly entirely on Earth by marine microorganisms. DMS wasn’t the only thing the JWST detected; it also identified methane and carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere. These molecules alone do not equate to life, but the combination of gases, and DMS specifically, is incredibly exciting. Professor Nikku Madhusudhan is the lead researcher at the University of Cambridge, and he states, “If the signals are confirmed, this could be the first evidence of life beyond Earth.”
Why does it Matter?
What you’re probably thinking is: why should I care? We’ll tell you why:
1. It questions what we understand as alive. All our theories have been based very much on Earth-like conditions. K2-18b has been classified as a “Hycean” planet – a water-rich world where a hydrogen dominated atmosphere makes microbial life possible even in settings that are very different than ours.
2. It inspires innovation and creativity. Discoveries like these spark imagination and inspire generations of scientists, engineers and thinkers. It brings the idea of space exploration into the classroom, the conversation, and the community.
3.It reshapes our understanding of our existence in the universe. If microbial life can exist on K2-18b, then there are so many more possibilities that life may exist – in so many forms and places.
What’s Next?
So far, scientists are being careful, although the results are exciting. The DMS detection is tentative. Scientists need to gather additional observations with JWST to better characterize the presence of these biosignatures and dismiss abiotic sources.
The forthcoming observations will focus on collecting more precise observations of the planet including the atmospheric composition, temperature and level of cloud coverage. If confirmed, K2-18b may be the first exoplanet confirmed to have, or have had, life outside our solar system.
For the Bigger Picture
This discovery has ramifications in several fields:
- Astrobiology is ushering in a new age with Hydrogenolysis “Hycean” planets as an area for research and possibly central to these efforts.
- Philosophy and ethics are getting jittery as we are nudged at the notion of what it means to be special in the Universe and why the human mind incessantly thinks it is.
- Public policy and funding agency space exploration efforts will likely shift, such that focused missions on exoplanets that harbor life, gain the greatest interest.
And, the James Webb Space Telescope has only scratched the surface! Who knows the kinds of answers are possible from the data the JWST will provide?
The whisper from the stars is growing louder and for the first time it pushes us to think maybe, maybe we aren’t as alone as we think. Stay Tuned with tuberbuddy for more such updates!