India's space agency, ISRO, will send tardigrades—microscopic, resilient organisms often referred to as "water bears"—to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom-4 mission. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, this mission will investigate the effects of microgravity on tardigrades' revival, reproduction, and gene expression. The research, conducted in partnership with NASA and the European Space Agency, aims to enhance our understanding of biological resilience in space, offering insights into long-duration space missions and potential space-based applications for Earth. Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla will be the pilot for this historic mission. (PC: News 18)

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force pilot, is all set to take part in the journey as a Second Indian into space, 40 years after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight. Selected as the pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Shukla will embark on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission, a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, is scheduled for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in May 2025. Shukla, who has over 2,000 flying hours, will be joined by commander Peggy Whitson and astronauts from Poland and Hungary. This mission signifies a new era in Indo-US space cooperation and is expected to bolster India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission. (PC: Getty Images)

Cambridge University astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan and his team have detected the strongest evidence yet of potential alien life on exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years from Earth. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, they found traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—chemicals known on Earth to be produced only by life forms like marine phytoplankton. K2-18b is a ‘Hycean’ planet, with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and possibly an ocean beneath. While the findings are not yet conclusive, they mark a groundbreaking moment in the search for extraterrestrial life and highlight the growing impact of Indian-origin scientists in astrophysics. (PC: AP)

ISRO cements its global space leadership as it takes center stage in the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station, launching in May 2025. Featuring 60 scientific experiments from 31 nations, ISRO contributes seven key studies, including space farming, microalgae nutrition, muscle regeneration, and tardigrade resilience. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian to reach the ISS, marking a historic moment since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight. The mission deepens India's role in international space collaboration and prepares the groundwork for ISRO’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. Shukla's experience will be vital for future indigenous missions. (PC: axiomspace.com)

Astronomers from the University of Cambridge have identified potential signs of life on exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, they detected traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—molecules on Earth typically associated with microbial ocean life. The planet, a “Hycean” world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and possible liquid oceans, orbits within the habitable zone of its star. While not definitive proof of life, the discovery significantly boosts interest in the search for extraterrestrial microbes. Further studies are needed to confirm these tantalizing findings.  

Scientists may be on the verge of discovering life beyond Earth, as signs of a gas linked to marine organisms on Earth have been found on exoplanet K2-18b. Led by Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan, the research hints at biosignatures in the planet’s atmosphere, potentially the strongest evidence yet of alien life. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope made the detection, while future missions aim to search Mars and icy moons for life. Experts suggest that even simple life discovery would reshape human self-perception and unite humanity. The possibility of life in the universe is now seen as a question of “when,” not “if,” marking a transformative shift in science and society.

Indian-origin astrophysicist Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan, a professor at the University of Cambridge, has led a team that detected dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located 120 light-years from Earth. On Earth, DMS is produced exclusively by living organisms like marine algae. This discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope, suggests K2-18b could be a Hycean planet—ocean-covered with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere—potentially supporting life. Dr. Madhusudhan, known for introducing the Hycean planet concept, emphasized the need for caution, stating, “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life.” The findings are published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. (PC: PBC & India TV)

Astronomers have detected potential signs of life on exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, they identified dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in its atmosphere—a compound on Earth primarily produced by marine organisms. K2-18b, over twice Earth's size and eight times its mass, resides in its star's habitable zone. While the presence of DMS is intriguing, scientists caution that further research is needed to confirm its biological origin and rule out non-biological sources. This discovery represents the most compelling evidence yet of potential extraterrestrial life, prompting calls for continued observation and analysis to validate these findings. (PC: NBC & Reuters)

In a groundbreaking find, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope detected potential biosignatures—dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18 b, located 124 light-years from Earth. These gases are produced on Earth only by microbial life, sparking excitement about possible extraterrestrial life. K2-18 b, a "hycean world" with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and liquid water ocean, orbits in a star’s habitable zone. Lead researcher Nikku Madhusudhan calls it a "transformational moment," though scientists urge caution, emphasizing the need for more data and theoretical studies to rule out non-biological explanations. (PC: University of Cambridge/Reuters)

A Cambridge University team has found the strongest evidence so far of potential life beyond Earth on the distant exoplanet K2-18b, 124 light-years away. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, researchers detected chemical signatures of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS)—molecules on Earth linked to marine life. Lead scientist Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan emphasizes the findings are promising but not conclusive, as more data is needed to rule out non-biological sources. If confirmed, this discovery could revolutionize the search for extraterrestrial life and reshape humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe. (PC: Cambridge University)