Scientists Find Promising Indication of Extraterrestrial Life—124 Light-Years Away

Astronomers have found One of the most committed hints is that there may be external life on the other planet. With help James Web Space TelescopeResearchers have identified that they believe that there may be a biochemical of marine microbi on K2-18 B Exoplanet Her Parent Star is located in the residence of 124 light-years away.

According to research led by the University of Cambridge, the team has detected signs of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimitheel dysolfide (DMDS) in the atmosphere on the planet. On earth, these compounds are only produced by microbial life like phytoplankton.

Scientists have acknowledged that these substances are produced on the planet by an unknown chemical process that is not related to the microorganism. However, they emphasize it Data Present the most powerful proof for possible life on any planet other than our own. The results were published in the Journal of Scientific Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The K2 –18B Earth mass is 8.6 times and its size is almost threefold. It is located in the direction of the constellation Leo and the orbit of a small, lower-dimensional star is known as a red dwarf. The planet is very close to its stars – it only takes 33 days to complete a orbit – but due to the lower temperature of the red dwarf, the planet is in a area area that allows liquid water to exist on its surface.

This exoplanet is one of the major possible examples of a highcian planet, characterized by a theoretical class and a wide liquid ocean and a hydrogen -rich environment around the world. According to astrobiologists, discovering a Hycian planet will represent one of the best opportunities in search of outward life.

This is not the first one who has attracted the attention of K2-18B astronomers. In 2023, the same group of scientists Found methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphereThe It was the first time carbon-based molecules were discovered on any planet in the residence of the space. Researchers also identified signals that seemed to be dimethyl sulfide at that time. And so two years later, the team paid another look at the promising planet.

“We didn’t know if the signal we saw last time was due to the DMS, but it was only exciting for us to look at one more look using another material for us,” said scientist Nikku Madhushan, who led this study, “said. Press releaseThe

“Earlier theoretical work predicted that high-level sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDs in the Hycian World. And now we have observed it, in harmony with what was predicted. What we know about this planet, a high-sided world that lives in a high-minded world that fits to us, to us.”

This story was originally attended Wired In Spanish And have been translated from Spanish.