• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Astronomers claim they've detected 'signs of life' on planet that's only 120 light years from Earth

Home> Technology> Space

Updated 10:07 17 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 10:06 17 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Astronomers claim they've detected 'signs of life' on planet that's only 120 light years from Earth

The study reveals the 'most promising signs yet' of biological activity outside our solar system

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

A study has revealed the 'strongest hints yet of biological activity outside' our solar system, building on previous exciting observations.

While everyone's fussing over Katy Perry going to space, the University of Cambridge has led a study honing in on the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b.

However, it does say that astronomers 'remain cautious' about their findings, but why?

Advert

The study - titled New Constraints on DMS and DMDS in the Atmosphere of K2-18b from JWST MIRI and published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters - used data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), ' the largest, most powerful and most complex telescope ever launched into space'.

The study looked at the atmosphere surrounding K2-18b - an exoplanet 8.6 times as big as Earth, lying roughly 120 light-years away from us and orbiting the cool dwarf star K2-18.

In looking at the data, the team of astronomers detected 'chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/ or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of the exoplanet'.

So, what do the findings on exoplanet K2-18b actually mean?

Well, on Earth, DMS and DMDS are 'only produced by life' - 'primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton,' the University of Cambridge explains.

Advert

The study continues: "While an unknown chemical process may be the source of these molecules in K2-18b’s atmosphere, the results are the strongest evidence yet that life may exist on a planet outside our solar system."

Observations revealed there's only a '0.3 percent probability' the chemical fingerprints 'occurred by chance'.

However, 'to reach the accepted classification for scientific discovery,' there would have to 'be below a 0.00006 percent probability they occurred by chance'.

So, what's next?

Advert

Space experts say it's some of the most promising evidence yet (Javier Zayas Photography/Getty stock photo)
Space experts say it's some of the most promising evidence yet (Javier Zayas Photography/Getty stock photo)

The recent study follows on from earlier observations of the planet revealing carbon-based molecules in the habitable zone of the atmosphere of the exoplanet, seemingly supporting predictions there may be 'a habitable ocean-covered world underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere'.

While the earlier observation was slightly less certain as to whether or not DMS was being detected, the signal of DMS in the recent study 'came through strong and clear'.

Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge's Institude of Astronomy - who led the research - said: "Earlier theoretical work had predicted that high levels of sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDS are possible on Hycean worlds.

Advert

"And now we’ve observed it, in line with what was predicted. Given everything we know about this planet, a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have."

We might not be alone after all (fotograzia/Getty stock photo)
We might not be alone after all (fotograzia/Getty stock photo)

The researchers are now said to be planning a period of follow-up observation time with the James Webb Space Telescope of between 16 and 24 hours.

They hope this may 'help them reach the all-important' percentage of under 0.00006 percent to be able to classify the findings as a 'scientific discovery'.

Advert

Madhusudhan resolved: "Decades from now, we may look back at this point in time and recognise it was when the living universe came within reach.

"This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether we’re alone in the universe is one we’re capable of answering."

Featured Image Credit: Amanda Smith/University of Cambridge

Topics: Space, Science, NASA

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • NASA scientists reveal mind-blowing glowing life form in ocean that's visible from space
  • Stunning NASA images of the Moon and Earth from the ISS left astronaut in complete awe
  • NASA discovers ‘spiderwebs’ on Mars that could contain signs of alien life
  • Scientists reveal what aliens could really look like after discovering '99.7%' chance of life on distant planet

Choose your content:

14 hours ago
16 hours ago
17 hours ago
19 hours ago
  • 14 hours ago

    Urgent warning to billions of Gmail users over dangerous 'no-reply' attack

    Recently received an email from '[email protected]'?

    Technology
  • 16 hours ago

    NASA issues warning for major solar storm that has already caused radio blackouts on Earth

    Space experts have weighed in on how likely the catastrophic event may be - and how we will be affected

    Technology
  • 17 hours ago

    Bacteria with ‘unique abilities’ has mutated on space station into something never seen before on Earth

    Swabs containing Niallia tiangongensis were frozen onboard the Chinese space station before being delovered to Earth

    Technology
  • 19 hours ago

    Duolingo CEO sparks controversy by suggesting AI is a better teacher than humans as he predicts future of schooling

    Luis von Ahn has been speaking about the future of artificial intelligence

    Technology