Cambridge Scientists Detect Potential Life Signs on Exoplanet K2-18b Using James Webb Telescope
| Key Term/Event | Details |
|---|---|
| K2-18b | Exoplanet located 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo, 2.6 times the size of Earth, orbiting a red dwarf star. |
| Discovery | Potential biosignatures (DMS and DMDS) found in K2-18b's atmosphere using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). |
| Key Molecules | Dimethyl Sulphide (DMS) and Dimethyl Disulphide (DMDS) -- gases produced by phytoplankton and bacteria on Earth. |
| Instrument | James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) analyzed starlight passing through K2-18b's atmosphere to detect chemical signatures. |
| Certainty Level | Current detection has three sigma (99.7%) certainty; five sigma (99.9999%) required for scientific confirmation. |
| Significance | Presence of DMS and DMDS suggests possible marine-type microbial life; first potential detection of extraterrestrial life. |
| Scientific Impact | Pivotal moment in astrobiology; may redefine understanding of life in the universe if confirmed. |
| Publication | Research findings published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. |