99.7% Certainty Signs of Life on Distant Ocean Planet Raise Hopes for Alien Discovery

[Social Media]

 

Signs of Life on Distant Ocean Planet Raise Hopes for Alien Discovery

 

In what scientists are calling a groundbreaking moment in the search for extraterrestrial life, a planet located 124 light years from Earth has shown remarkable signs that it could be inhabited. K2-18b, a so-called "hycean" world—meaning it has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a surface entirely covered by liquid water—may be teeming with microscopic life.

 

 

Researchers analyzing data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) report with 99.7 per cent certainty that at least one gas has been detected in the planet’s atmosphere that, on Earth, is exclusively produced by living organisms. “These are the first hints we are seeing of an alien world that is possibly inhabited,” said a Cambridge astrophysicist, describing the finding as an “astounding” leap forward. “It was astounding … it was an incredible realisation seeing the results emerge,” he continued, calling the discovery “a shock to the system” and “a very fundamental advancement in our search for life.”

 

 

The gases in question—dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS)—are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and sulphur. On Earth, these compounds are primarily produced by living organisms such as photosynthetic plankton, certain bacteria, seaweeds, and plants. DMS, in particular, is commonly released when marine plankton become stressed. What makes the finding so significant is that these gases decay within hours after being produced. For them to exist in such detectable concentrations—at least ten parts per million in K2-18b’s atmosphere—they must be continuously replenished, something scientists believe is unlikely to occur without biological activity.

 

 

K2-18b orbits the star K2-18 in the constellation Leo. It is 2.6 times the radius of Earth and completes one orbit every 33 days, comfortably within the habitable zone of its star. The planet’s composition—especially its hydrogen-rich atmosphere and global ocean—makes it an ideal candidate for harboring life. According to a study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, “DMS and DMDS are both molecules uniquely produced by life on Earth and predicted as promising biosignatures in habitable exoplanets.”

 

 

The first signs of DMS were observed by JWST in 2023, alongside carbon dioxide and methane, though initial confidence levels varied widely. However, recent observations using a different JWST instrument that captures mid-infrared light have confirmed the presence of DMS with 99.7 per cent certainty.

 

Dr Michael Steinke, a DMS expert from the University of Essex who was not involved in the study, remarked that the combination of water, methane, and DMS in the planet’s atmosphere seems to “tick quite a few boxes” in identifying K2-18b as a prime location in the ongoing search for life beyond Earth.

 

The discovery propels K2-18b ahead of nearer celestial bodies like Mars, Europa, and Enceladus, the latter two being icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, which have also shown promise due to their subsurface oceans. Now, however, it appears that a distant, water-covered world in the constellation of Leo might become humanity’s most compelling lead in the quest to answer the age-old question: are we alone in the universe?

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-04-18

 

 

[Don Giovanni]

When are they starting one-way, direct flights?

 

The Don.

[FlorC]

8,6 x the mass of earth. Gravity must be a b---h there.

[Andre0720]

Perhaps that is where God hangs out.

He certainly is not on Earth based on how long we have been waiting for some help from him here...

[KhunBENQ]

17 hours ago, Don Giovanni said:

When are they starting one-way, direct flights?

 

The Don.

With the speed of Voyager 1 (started 1977, distance now about one light day) the 124 light year trip would take roughly 50 million years.

Who invents warp speed spaceship?

I find this research "interesting" if it doesn't cost me money.

Those researchers will never have to proof their findings.

Send a query to those aliens and expect an answer in no earlier than 248 years.

[Don Giovanni]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

With the speed of Voyager 1 (started 1977, distance now about one light day) the 124 light year trip would take roughly 50 million years.

Who invents warp speed spaceship?

I find this research "interesting" if it doesn't cost me money.

Those researchers will never have to proof their findings.

Send a query to those aliens and expect an answer in no earlier than 248 years.

If I could I would cryogenically freeze myself I would gladly take the 50 million year one way trip..

 

Or just wait a couple more decades till Virgin start doing one-way flights to Mars.

 

Either or will do.

 

The Don. 

[NoDisplayName]

Alien lifeforms to be tariffed at 500% in 3...2...1........

[marin]

3 hours ago, Don Giovanni said:

Or just wait a couple more decades till Virgin start doing one-way flights to Mars.

 

Uh Virgin have no plans to go to Mars. I think you are in a drunken stupor. Space X?🤣

[Don Giovanni]

5 minutes ago, marin said:

Uh Virgin have no plans to go to Mars. I think you are in a drunken stupor. Space X?🤣

are you a Virgin?

 

stop stalking me!

 

The Don.

[johng]

22 hours ago, Social Media said:

In what scientists are calling a groundbreaking moment in the search for extraterrestrial life, a planet located 124 light years from Earth has shown remarkable signs that it could be inhabited.

 

Ohh those damn "conspiracy theorists"  at it again

 Beem me up Scotty !!

[FlorC]

Well it just came out that the US can bend space and time , so we can go 

to this new planet and ruin it too. Cool !

 

America can 'manipulate time and space', says Trump science chief (interestingengineering.com)

 

 

[johng]

1 minute ago, FlorC said:

America can 'manipulate time and space',

 

Yeah I saw that too...seems they have been sitting on "alien" technology for years.

[FlorC]

Seeing is believing ...

[steven100]

 

 

 

[Harrisfan]

Could be full of hot women