Cambridge Scientist, Nikku Madhusudhan, Thinks He Could Have Discovered Alien Life - April 2024
Alien Life & UFO/UAPs
Tuesday 30th, April 2024
In a significant step towards confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life, astronomers have turned their attention to the distant planet K2-18b. Situated in the habitable zone of its star within the Leo constellation, this super Earth, more than twice the size of our own planet, has shown promising signs that it may harbour life.
The James Webb Space Telescope, an advanced $10 billion (£7.4 billion) NASA observatory, is set to undertake crucial observations to verify the presence of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b. This compound, integral to the recent discussions surrounding the planet, is known on Earth to be produced solely by biological processes.
Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, an astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge who is leading the investigations, shared his thoughts on the significance of these observations. "If we do detect DMS, it does put it basically at the top for potential signs of habitability", he explained to The Times.
The excitement around K2-18b began in 2015 with its discovery, escalating in 2019 when water vapour was first detected in its atmosphere. The intrigue deepened last year following the Webb telescope's detection of carbon dioxide and methane, alongside a notable lack of ammonia. This combination hinted at the potential for a water ocean beneath a hydrogen rich atmosphere, sparking significant scientific interest.
Dr Madhusudhan described the initial discovery of DMS as a "very profound moment" due to the lack of known geological or chemical processes that could produce DMS without life. "It was a real shock, I had sleepless nights for a week," he admitted, recounting the momentous discovery.
Despite the promising findings, Dr Madhusudhan remains cautious, having previously stated his 50 per cent confidence in the initial detection of DMS on K2-18b. The next eight hour observation session by the James Webb Telescope aims to provide a definitive answer, though the data analysis is expected to take several months.
The Webb telescope operates by capturing the light from a star as it passes through a planet's atmosphere, allowing scientists to analyse the absorbed and altered light to determine the atmospheric composition. This technique offers a detailed spectrum of the gases present, which are indicative of various atmospheric processes.
However, the potential habitability of K2-18b is still under debate. While earlier studies presumed the presence of a water ocean, recent research suggests that the planet's ocean might actually be lava, due to the high pressures and temperatures that would be expected on such a large planet.
Researcher Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University noted the unique nature of K2-18b, stating, "Although this kind of planet does not exist in our solar system, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet known so far in the galaxy".
As the scientific community and space enthusiasts worldwide await the results from the latest observations, the potential discovery of life on K2-18b remains one of the most tantalising prospects in modern astronomy.
The James Webb Space Telescope, an advanced $10 billion (£7.4 billion) NASA observatory, is set to undertake crucial observations to verify the presence of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b. This compound, integral to the recent discussions surrounding the planet, is known on Earth to be produced solely by biological processes.
Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, an astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge who is leading the investigations, shared his thoughts on the significance of these observations. "If we do detect DMS, it does put it basically at the top for potential signs of habitability", he explained to The Times.
The excitement around K2-18b began in 2015 with its discovery, escalating in 2019 when water vapour was first detected in its atmosphere. The intrigue deepened last year following the Webb telescope's detection of carbon dioxide and methane, alongside a notable lack of ammonia. This combination hinted at the potential for a water ocean beneath a hydrogen rich atmosphere, sparking significant scientific interest.
Dr Madhusudhan described the initial discovery of DMS as a "very profound moment" due to the lack of known geological or chemical processes that could produce DMS without life. "It was a real shock, I had sleepless nights for a week," he admitted, recounting the momentous discovery.
Despite the promising findings, Dr Madhusudhan remains cautious, having previously stated his 50 per cent confidence in the initial detection of DMS on K2-18b. The next eight hour observation session by the James Webb Telescope aims to provide a definitive answer, though the data analysis is expected to take several months.
The Webb telescope operates by capturing the light from a star as it passes through a planet's atmosphere, allowing scientists to analyse the absorbed and altered light to determine the atmospheric composition. This technique offers a detailed spectrum of the gases present, which are indicative of various atmospheric processes.
However, the potential habitability of K2-18b is still under debate. While earlier studies presumed the presence of a water ocean, recent research suggests that the planet's ocean might actually be lava, due to the high pressures and temperatures that would be expected on such a large planet.
Researcher Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University noted the unique nature of K2-18b, stating, "Although this kind of planet does not exist in our solar system, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet known so far in the galaxy".
As the scientific community and space enthusiasts worldwide await the results from the latest observations, the potential discovery of life on K2-18b remains one of the most tantalising prospects in modern astronomy.
