Harvard astrophysicists are almost certain that they have found extraterrestrial life. Planet K2-18b was discovered 120 light years from Earth; emissions of gas produced only by living organisms were recorded here.
K2-18b’s mass is eight times that of Earth. The planet is twice the size of ours and is located in the habitable zone of its star in the constellation Leo. In March 2024, dimethyl sulfide gas (DMS) was found in the object’s atmosphere. The same connection produced only by life.
In addition, we are talking about an ocean planet. This type includes rocky objects with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean of liquid water on the surface – conditions for the emergence of intelligent creatures are ideal here.
On Earth, the bulk of DMS is released into the atmosphere by phytoplankton in the oceans. Therefore, astrophysicists believe that a similar situation may well be observed on K2-18b.
In general, scientists are so confident in this that on April 29 they kept the James Webb Space Telescope pointed only at this planet. The obtained data was compiled into a video:
Most of the information is still being processed. Final findings are expected to be published within three months.
