Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 12:03pm on 18 Apr 2025,Friday Science
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.
