Astronomers have found evidence of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule associated with life on Earth, on the exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years away. This discovery, detailed in the Astrophysical Journal, indicates that K2-18b may be a Hycean planet, characterized by a significant presence of water vapor and conditions suitable for life. The astronomers reported detecting dimethyl sulfide levels 1,000 times higher than those found on Earth, sparking excitement within the scientific community. Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan emphasized the significance of these findings in the search for extraterrestrial life.
K2-18b, an exoplanet eight times larger than Earth, exhibits high levels of dimethyl sulfide, a potential sign of life produced by organisms on our planet.
Dr. Madhusudhan remarked, 'These are the first hints we are seeing of an alien world that is possibly inhabited,' making this a revolutionary moment in astronomy.
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