Scientists have detected for the first time on the exoplaneta K2-18b molecules that, on earth, are produced only by living organisms. Scientists wonder if this planet, 124-light years, could shelter a life form.
Life signs, similar to the existing ones on Earth, discovered on another planet /Photo source: NASA
Indices that could confirm life outside the land
We are not alone-biosignations detected on the K2-18B exoplanet, which could be the strongest evidence of life outside the Earth, according to Unionrayo.com.
Is there life beyond the earth? Well, we can still not answer this question with certainty, but we can tell you that something that could change everything has been detected.
For the first time, scientists believe that they have discovered something that could give us a lot of information about the formation of universes. This is the exoplaneta K2-18B, located 124 years away (about far, yes), but where molecules were found which, on our planet, are generated only by living organisms.
Exoplanete K2-18b, the most promising in search of extraterrestrial life
K2-18b is a planet that orbits a red dwarf star, in what is called “Housing area”, That is, a region where, theoretically, there could be liquid water. You know what the existence of water means on a planet, right? Water is synonymous with life, as it happened here, on Earth.
A team from Cambridge University used the James Webb space telescope to analyze the atmosphere of this planet, and what they have detected there is Dimetil Sulfid (DMS) and Dimetil Disulfid (DMDS). These substances, on Earth, are produced by phytoplankton and certain bacteria. And on K2-18B, if the data are correct, they would be present in quantities thousands of times larger than us. Could there be an active biosphere there? This is the big question.
The James Webb telescope has detected “biological” molecules on the planet at 124 years of earth-light
What is curious is not only the presence of these “biological” molecules. It is also what has not been detected: ammonia. According to the researchers, this could indicate the existence of oceans capable of absorbing it, just as it happens on Earth. Some are already talking about an oceanic world, with a certain resemblance to our planet in the early stages. Others prefer colder hypotheses: that it could be a mini-neptun without solid surface or a world with melted rock oceans, but not the “discovery of the century”.
For now, the certainty of this discovery is 99.7%. In science, it is known as “three sigma”. In order for something to be officially confirmed, a reliability of 99,99999% (five sigma) is needed. In other words, victory cannot be declared yet. But it is a very promising start and we already want to know what is going on there.
Catherine Heymans, a royal astronomer of Scotland, recalled that we still do not know if certain geological processes could not produce similar compounds. So, although many are excited, we must be aware, and cautious.
What is behind these amazing discoveries
The study in charge, Professor Nikku Madhusudhan believes this discovery could be a “Time of turning” in search of life beyond the solar system. And it’s no wonder. If it is confirmed that those molecules have a biological origin, the K2-18b could become the first life planet demonstrated beyond the earth, even if it was not a humanoid life.
The James Webb telescope, in turn, shows once again that it has opened a new era in astrobiology. The accuracy with which the atmospheres of exoplanets can analyze is unprecedented and allows the exploration of regions of space which, until recently, were just speculation. It’s something incredible
Exoplaneta is in an area with liquid water compatible temperatures and could have oceans
K2-18b won, on Merit, the title of the most promising exoplanet in search of life. It has an atmosphere, it is in an area with temperatures compatible with liquid water and could have oceans. This is already much more than obtained with any other candidate so far.
The next few years will be essential. If the new observations confirm what James Webb seems to indicate, we could be in front of one of the most important discoveries in history.
