Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:15am on 17 Apr 2025,Thursday Science
In a major breakthrough, Cambridge University scientists have detected potential signs of life on the distant exoplanet K2-18b. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the team identified molecules like dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in the planet’s atmosphere — gases on Earth typically produced by microorganisms. Though the findings are not yet conclusive, they mark the strongest evidence so far of extraterrestrial life. Lead researcher Prof Nikku Madhusudhan believes confirmation could arrive within two years. The discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, could bring humanity closer to answering one of science’s biggest questions: Are we alone in the universe? (PC: Cambridge University)
