Summary of Scientists find 'strongest evidence yet' of life on distant planet | BBC News
Scientists have found the strongest evidence yet suggesting the possibility of life on a distant exoplanet named K2-18b, located 124 light years away from Earth. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers detected molecules in the planet’s atmosphere that, on Earth, are produced by marine organisms such as plankton. K2-18b is about two and a half times the size of Earth, believed to be a water world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a vast ocean beneath it.
While the evidence for these life-related molecules is growing stronger, scientists caution that more data is needed to confirm their presence definitively. Even with perfect data, it remains uncertain whether these molecules are biological in origin or could be produced by unknown geological or chemical processes on the planet.
If life is confirmed on K2-18b, it would imply that life might be common throughout the galaxy. Researchers expect to have more conclusive results within the next one to two years, but debates will continue over whether the detected gases are truly biological or the result of other natural phenomena.
The discovery marks a significant step toward answering the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe. However, some scientists suggest that the best chances of finding life might still be closer to home, such as on icy moons orbiting Jupiter or Saturn, where ongoing space missions are actively searching for signs of life.
Overall, the ability to analyze the atmosphere of such a distant planet from faint starlight signals the beginning of a new era in the study of exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Presenters/Contributors:
- Palip Go (Science Correspondent)
- Katherine Haymon (Reporter)
- Professor Mad Husidedin (Lead Scientist)
Notable Quotes
— 03:44 — « The discovery of life on another world would be the biggest discovery of all time, but we're not there yet. »
— 03:54 — « Just because the gas is produced by plankton on Earth, it could be produced by other things on another world. »
— 04:05 — « This is, as professor Mhusedin said, the strongest evidence yet that there might be life on another planet, but there's more work to do. »
— 04:58 — « It's a question that we've been asking for thousands of years and now we've got amazing tools and resources to possibly answer that big question. »
— 05:36 — « This will be the first of many planets that will be studied in this way. »
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News and Commentary