Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found strong biosignatures, including dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. These chemical compounds, which are associated with life on Earth, could indicate the presence of a thriving ocean environment. While the team, led by astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge University, emphasizes that they are not definitively claiming signs of life, the findings are remarkable and suggest a unique opportunity to explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life, evoking significant emotional responses among the scientists involved.
"This is a question humanity has been asking for thousands of years, and if you're witnessing it for the first time, it is a shock to the system."
"Though the researchers are 'not currently claiming' that the biosignatures they detected coming from K2-18b are definitively 'due to life,' they're definitely not ruling it out."
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