Gases Linked To Life Found In Atmosphere Of Alien Planet

gases linked to life found in atmosphere of alien planet

The two gases dimethyl sulphide, or DMS, and dimethyl disulphide, or DMDS involved in Webbs observations of the planet named K2-18 b are generated on Earth by living organisms, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton.

This suggests the planet may be teeming with microbial life, the researchers said. They stressed, however, that they are not announcing the discovery of actual living organisms but rather a possible biosignature an indicator of a biological process and that the findings should be viewed cautiously, with more observations needed.

Nonetheless, they voiced excitement. These are the first hints of an alien world that is possibly inhabited, said astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridges Institute of Astronomy, lead author of the study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

This is a transformational moment in the search for life beyond the solar system, where we have demonstrated that it is possible to detect biosignatures in potentially habitable planets with current facilities. We have entered the era of observational astrobiology, Madhusudhan said.

Madhusudhan noted that there are various efforts underway searching for signs of life in our solar system, including various claims of environments that might be conducive to life in places like Mars, Venus and various icy moons.