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Sulfur Biosignatures Detected on Exoplanet K2-18b Hint at Possible Life

Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope report the discovery of compounds linked to biological activity on Earth, though further confirmation is needed.

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Overview

  • Astronomers identified dimethylsulfide and dimethyldisulfide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, potential biosignatures associated with life on Earth.
  • The compounds were detected through advanced spectroscopic analysis conducted by the James Webb Space Telescope.
  • K2-18b, located 124 light years away in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, is over eight times the size of Earth and a prime candidate for habitability studies.
  • Researchers caution that while the findings are the most promising indicators of extraterrestrial life yet, further observations are necessary to confirm a biological origin.
  • The discovery, published in *The Astrophysical Journal Letters*, marks a significant step forward in the search for life beyond our solar system.