Strongest Evidence yet of Life on Distant ExoPlanet K2-18b

[ExomatrixTV]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HjWwTw-zEIM

Scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life. A Cambridge team studying the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b has detected signs of molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms. K2-18b is two and a half times the size of Earth and is seven hundred trillion miles away from us. This is the second, and more promising, time chemicals associated with life have been detected in the planet's atmosphere by Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

K2-18b, also known as EPIC 201912552 b, is an exoplanet orbiting the red dwarf K2-18, located 124 light-years (38 pc) away from Earth. The planet is a sub-Neptune about 2.6 times the radius of Earth, with a 33-day orbit within the star's habitable zone; it receives approximately a similar amount of sunlight as the Earth receives from its sun. Initially discovered with the Kepler space telescope, it was later observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in order to study the planet's atmosphere.

In 2019, the presence of water vapour in K2-18b's atmosphere was reported, drawing scientific attention to this system. In 2023, the JWST detected carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of K2-18b. JWST’s data has been variously interpreted as indicating a water ocean planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, and a gas-rich mini-Neptune. K2-18b has been studied as a potential habitable world that, temperature aside, more closely resembles a gas planet like Uranus or Neptune than Earth.

In 2025, the atmosphere of K2-18b was found to contain dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical thought to be produced in nature only by living organisms, and furthermore in quantities 20 times that found on Earth. In as much as the molecule is short-lived, the concentration is highly suggestive that DMS is being replenished.

• wikipedia.org/wiki/K2-18b

• Strongest Hints Yet Of Biological Activity Outside The Solar System:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sPRr4DgMTxI

Astronomers have detected the most promising signs yet of a possible biosignature outside the solar system, although they remain cautious.

Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the astronomers, led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge, have detected the chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18b, which orbits its star in the habitable zone.

On Earth, DMS and DMDS are only produced by life, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton. While an unknown chemical process may be the source of these molecules in K2-18b’s atmosphere, the results are the strongest evidence yet that life may exist on a planet outside our solar system.

The observations have reached the ‘three-sigma’ level of statistical significance – meaning there is a 0.3% probability that they occurred by chance. To reach the accepted classification for scientific discovery, the observations would have to cross the five-sigma threshold, meaning there would be below a 0.00006% probability they occurred by chance.

The researchers say between 16 and 24 hours of follow-up observation time with JWST may help them reach the all-important five-sigma significance. While they are not yet claiming a definitive discovery, the researchers that with powerful tools like JWST and future planned telescopes, humanity is taking new steps toward answering that most essential of questions: are we alone?

• James Webb Detects Strongest-Ever Signs of Alien Life on Exoplanet K2-18 b:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=a-Xp05dRcBY

In a potential scientific breakthrough, researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) — gases linked exclusively to biological processes on Earth — in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18 b. Located 124 light-years away in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, K2-18 b may be a “Hycean world” — a type of planet with a water-rich surface and hydrogen-rich atmosphere that could harbor microbial life. Though not definitive proof of life, the 99.7% confidence level in the detection of these bio-signature gases marks the strongest evidence yet of possible life beyond our solar system. Lead scientist Professor Nikku Madhusudhan urges cautious optimism, calling it a “monumental” step in answering humanity’s age-old question: Are we alone?

• Possible Alien World: 'if True, It Will Change Our View Of The Universe Forever':

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=B84zs8Np7rc

• news.sky.com/story/strongest-evidence-of-life-yet-found-on-planet-beyond-solar-system-scientists-say-13350295

[ExomatrixTV]

• JWST May Have Just Detected Alien Life at Exoplanet K2-18b:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=82cLukqLgME

Reporting on whether James Webb Space Telescope May Have Just Detected Alien Life at Exoplanet K2-18b. Either we found a new chemical process we've never run across before, or we found alien life.

• Astrophysicist Says K2-18B Planet May Have Liquid Water And Shows Signs Of Life:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BS0RqvNojxI

Astrophysicist Sarah Rugheimer joins CTV News to explain signs of alien life and what dimethyl sulfide could reveal on that planet.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zPYHPGSDf_w

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=c8MJgHbqWBU

[ExomatrixTV]

• JWST spots the most distant glow of hydrogen ever found | Night Sky News April 2025:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=b7Q06j94j9U

Hello and welcome to this episode of Night Sky News for April 2025 with me, astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst. This is the show where we chat about what you should look out for in the night sky in the next month, and what’s been happening in space news in the past month. In this episode we’re chatting about all things James Webb Space Telescope, from the announcement of the observations JWST will be making in the next year, to how its spotted Neptune’s aurora for the first time, to the images it captured of the no longer hazardous to Earth asteroid 2024 YR4, and JWST’s discovery of the new record holder for the most distant detection of glowing hydrogen in a galaxy.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:15 Lyrids Meteor Shower
• 02:00 Venus, Saturn, Mercury, and the Crescent Moon
• 02:43 Eta-Aquarids Meteor Shower
• 04:31 T Coronae Borealis and your astronomy homework
• 07:28 Mars, Jupiter, and Orion
• 09:41 April Fool's Astronomy Research Papers
• 12:17 JWST Year 4 Observation Programs
• 16:08 JWST observes asteroid 2024 YR4
• 19:50 JWST spots Neptune's aurora for the first time
• 24:17 JWST spots most distant detection of glowing hydrogen
• 29:06 New merch!
• 30:45 Bloopers

• Have We Really Just Found The Strongest Evidence For Alien Life Yet?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-lf2hhUEu98

[ExomatrixTV]

• Astronomers Say They Have Found the Strongest Signs of Life on K2-18b, 120 Light-Years from Earth:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=M1A6WnUg_F8

Two years ago, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) made a groundbreaking discovery: the detection of methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. These carbon-bearing molecules hinted at the planet's potential to harbor life, sparking significant interest in the scientific community.

Now, in 2025, JWST has provided even more compelling data. Scientists have identified chemical signatures of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in K2-18b's atmosphere. On Earth, these gases are predominantly produced by marine microorganisms, making them strong candidates as biosignatures.

The presence of these compounds suggests that K2-18b, a "Hycean" world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and potential global oceans, could be teeming with life.

However, while these findings are exciting, they do not confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life. The detection of DMS and DMDS, although statistically significant, requires further validation to rule out non-biological sources.

Some scientists urge caution, emphasizing the need for additional observations and theoretical studies to confirm these results.

• arxiv.org/pdf/2309.05566v2
• arxiv.org/pdf/1907.11044
• arxiv.org/abs/2504.09752