Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:44pm on 18 Apr 2025,Friday Science
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)
