First signs of life may have been detected on an exoplanet...

Findings are preliminary but the James Webb telescope may have detected the first signs of life on an exoplanet about 2 times the size of earth on a planet about 124 light years from earth...

The chemical detected is dimethyl sulfide which was discovered in the planets atmosphere. On Earth this chemical is only produced by processes. The spectral profile of the planet also showed water vapor in its atmosphere. The planet lies within the goldilock zone of its parent star, a red dwarf.

In what may be the first sign of life detected beyond our Solar System, the James Webb Telescope has detected the signature of a chemical compound that is known to only be produced by biological organisms, in the atmosphere of an exoplanet 124 light years from Earth.

Although its detection is still tentative, the spectral signature of the compound in question, dimethyl sulfide, was detected by JWST’s spectrographic sensors in the atmosphere of K2-18b as the exoplanet transited across the face of its host star. On Earth, dimethyl sulfide is only produced by biological processes, chiefly by marine phytoplankton, with smaller amounts being produced by other forms of bacteria; this means that, provided its presence on the distant world is confirmed, a photosynthesizing lifeform may be thriving on K2-18b.

K2-18b itself is a Neptune-like planet 2.6 times the size of Earth that orbits a red dwarf star found in the constellation Leo; the exoplanet was originally found by the Kepler Space Telescope in 2015, and although it’s orbit is less than half the distance Mercury is from the Sun, K2-18b lies in its host star’s Goldilocks zone, meaning that water can exist as a liquid on the planet’s surface.

What’s more, K2-18b’s spectral profile does indeed show the presence of water vapor in its atmosphere; the presence of carbon dioxide and methane, along with relatively little ammonia, suggests that the planet may have a liquid ocean. Along with its hydrogen-based atmosphere, the presence of a liquid ocean would make K2-18b what is called a “Hycean planet” (a portmanteau of “hydrogen” and “ocean”), two factors that could make such planets favorable for supporting life.

The planet is not in our solar system. This type of planet a mini Neptune is fairly common throughout the galazy.

Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere,” explained study lead Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge. “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.”

Although there is the possibility that dimethyl sulphide could be produced by non-biological means, science is currently unaware of any such process, leaving a biological origin as the only suspected source for what has been detected in K2-18b’s atmosphere. The surface of the planet’s host star is also much more active than that of our Sun, potentially exposing K2-18b to high-energy radiation, such as x-rays, that could potentially sterilize the surface of any lifeforms. However, that isn’t to say that the planet mightn’t have some method of shielding its atmosphere and surface from deadly radiation, such as a robust magnetic field.

The discovery of this biological marker is also significant because mini-Neptunes like K2-18b seem to be fairly common throughout the galaxy, meaning there could potentially be a large pool of non-terrestrial planets that could be home to different lifeforms.

“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,” according to study co-author Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University. “We have obtained the most detailed spectrum of a habitable-zone sub-Neptune to date, and this allowed us to work out the molecules that exist in its atmosphere.”

“Our ultimate goal is the identification of life on a habitable exoplanet, which would transform our understanding of our place in the universe,” Madhusudhan added. “Our findings are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest.”

Source

a reply to: data5091

I remember discussing this one before. The fact it is two times the size of Earth makes any life ether bacteria or water dwelling. Two times size means eight times gravity.

a reply to: data5091

Exciting times I must say, even though it is still theoretical.

a reply to: data5091

This is cool stuff. I always like reading about these new planets being discovered.

I was reading about an earth sized planet earlier that is made of solid iron and orbits it's sun every 7 hours.

a reply to: data5091

Now thats exciting

I asked AI what if would mean if we found this in the atmosphere of another planet..

It gave me pages and pages of things it could mean, it could be many many things, but sure it could also be a "indication" of life, but it could also be produced by other non organic processes.

Personally I am still waiting for that clear picture of a alien built dyson sphere around a distant star.

originally posted by: beyondknowledge2
a reply to: data5091

I remember discussing this one before. The fact it is two times the size of Earth makes any life ether bacteria or water dwelling. Two times size means eight times gravity.

you would also need 8 times the amount of delta V to get rockets into space.

From the video I posted above:

This exoplanet's sun is a red dwarf, which is half the size in radius than our sun and cooler, but because this planet is closer to the sun it is still in the habitable zone.

This exoplanet has a 33 day orbit around it's star but still receives the same solar radiation as our planet does from our star. This causes challenges for observers/scientists in obtaining transit data in that they cannot observe every transit, only 4 or 5 times per year. So we are very lucky to get this data and keep in mind that they only obtained two observations thus far, and are saying that it is not confirmed. And that it will be another year until they can get more transit data for confirmation of the presence of dimethyl sulfide and more data, hopefully.

What's interesting is that the compound dimethyl sulfide (DMS) has not yet been reproduced in a laboratory with non-living processes.

Methane and CO2 which was also detected, the data can be replicated and confirmed within the next three months. Dimethyl sulfide data which will be analyzed by other labs will be hit and miss as more data is needed. This time next year they should have a good handle on DMS.

On Earth, phytoplankton produces DMS and other natural veggies produce DMS, but predominantly microorganisms.

Scientists have not given this exoplanet a nickname...aww.

a reply to: watchitburn

that are a couple of really interesting books I have recently read out there about the discoveries made so far.

a reply to: data5091

And the James Webb is barely warmed up

Great times to be alive.

a reply to: TheGreazel

I know, right?? Its just a matter of time, hopefully sooner as opposed to later we find something out there.

I am of the mind that there is life everywhere out there, both life as we know it, and life as we don't know it. The biggest obstacle we face is the extreme distance of everything, its just a matter of time before we find it. I already believe it has found us, far to many sighting of things both in the sky, and things in the water that go unexplained.

Space Engine is one program built on a heap of astronomical data, some mind blowing detail with what has been discovered. More so closer to Earth as some procedural data is used to fill in the gaps outside of our detection range. Within what we can see, there are a lot of places on the suspect list for bearing life.

a reply to: data5091

can someone explain to me in a plausible way why we spent billions for the search for ET when aliens have long been among us, there are bases on the moon and mars, we possess extraterrestrial technology and have already taken part in space battles? or is this supposed to go down in the guinness book of records as the most expensive diversionary maneuver?(;

cool thread anyways!

a reply to: malte85

It's NASA's way of doing business --- reject the obvious reality about the existence of ET foo fighters on our own front doorstep ---- so that they can still be granted huge wampum contracts by Congress, for their own much needed space projects.




Erno

originally posted by: Erno86
a reply to: malte85

It's NASA's way of doing business --- reject the obvious reality about the existence of ET foo fighters on our own front doorstep ---- so that they can still be granted huge wampum contracts by Congress, for their own much needed space projects.




Erno

but why do we need space projects if we know everything anyway and are in possession of technologies that could take us to any place in the universe in a matter of seconds? and even if we don't know how to use this technology ... why do space agencies exist? it's not just nasa. i live near the dlr - the german air and space agency. these are all pretty serious scientists and engineers. why do they exist if we know everything anyway? why don't any of them tell us that they observe alien spaceships entering our atmosphere every day? where are the thousands of astronomers who observe the sky day and night? have they all conspired against us poor fools? so why nobody in this field at least considers that from a rational point of view there is the possibility that we never had contact and yet we didnt know the answer to the big question...? maybe there are phenomenons we cannot understand, we are still exploring our world. i want to believe but i lost faith.

a reply to: malte85

Humankind will always wonder about what's around the next bend in the road --- Same as outer space.

So we must have the curiosity to explore outer space for ourselves, so we can study the universe and especially protect ourselves from the likes of doomsday asteroids and such --- Even though asteroids are one of the main building blocks of planetary, biological life in our universe.

One of my favorite Captain Kirk quotes from John Masefield's poem "Sea Fever" ("First published in 1902 as part of his poetry collection: Salt Water Ballads")

Star Trek "All I ask is a tall ship"

a reply to: data5091
It's time they point that thing on Zeta Reticuli and tell us what they see?

originally posted by: 0bserver1
a reply to: data5091
It's time they point that thing on Zeta Reticuli and tell us what they see?

If there is advanced life there it may be a Talos 4 (Star Trek reference) thing, so we will only see what they want us to see.

a reply to: 0bserver1

well and then the other area which is highly anticipated is the much talked about Trappist system, which has 4-5 possible earth type planets.