Posted on 04/17/2025 9:38:23 AM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists may be getting closer than ever to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe.
According to The New York Times, a team of astronomers now claims to have found the strongest indication yet for extraterrestrial life.
The location in question is a giant planet known as K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away.
Repeated analyses of the planet’s atmosphere have found a high concentration of a molecule that, on Earth, is produced exclusively by living organisms like marine algae.
“It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge whose team has researched K2-18b, at a news conference on Tuesday.
However, his team of researchers believes the best explanation for their findings is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life.
“This is a revolutionary moment,” he continued. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
The findings were published Wednesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
While other scientists described the study as an exciting and intriguing starting point for understanding K2-18b, they cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
“It’s not nothing,” said Stephen Schmidt, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University.
“It’s a hint,” he added. “But we cannot conclude it’s habitable yet.”
Over the years, scientists have explored the possibility of life beyond Earth by studying planets and moons in our solar system—like Mars and Europa—for signs of water or conditions that could support life.
Space probes, rovers, and telescopes have all played a role in gathering this data.
Beyond our solar system, astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets, some in the “habitable zone” where liquid water might exist.
This involves analyzing these planets’ atmospheres for gases like oxygen or methane, substances typically produced by living organisms on Earth.
Meanwhile, new technologies like the James Webb Space Telescope now allow deeper, more precise searches for chemical signs of biology.
The search continues — but this could be the closest humanity has ever come.
Ping!...................
Just a clump of cells (typed in my best Dim voice)
This is very exciting news.
I hope it pans out.
detecting life organisms 120 light years away, and we cant even find one rock solid case of fraud in our own home...
Me thinks they should turn the James Webb Telescope around and point it at DC. Who knows what they will find!!!?
Can I move there ? No, Seriouly. Get me the hell off this crazy planet.
The space probe has been traveling for most of 50 yrs, and has not reached one light DAY. So it will need to travel more than 700 yrs to reach a light year.
If there are 2 planets with life in the space of 120 light years, there is life everywhere in the universe.
I see a huge difference between atmospheric oxygen and methane. Our own solar system has dead planets whose atmospheres contain methane.
Oxygen as a free gas is completely different, I believe. If there is free oxygen, then there is life, I would think.
Send the ladies to check it out.
Is there video of porpoises frolicking in the water?
Are there SHARKS!
SHARK WEEK! Sharks discovered on K2-18b. Women and children hardest hit.
These morons (”scientists”) can’t predict tomorrows weather, yet they can “claim” from 120 light-years away, that “the best explanation for their findings is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life.”
Is it “leap” year? Right, these “scientists” LIVE in “leap year”. They LEAP from one conclusion to a diametrically opposed conclusion faster than you can say “global “warming”” ugh wait... “climate change” (up or down).
I remember one renowned astronomer (scientist) BRAGGING how he modified his computer model until it exactly confirmed his hypothesis. WOW! Hello Nobel.
These scientist types are waaayyyy to enthusiastic about “potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
I get that it’s how they make a living, but expecting everyone else to think it’s important is asking too much.
Everywhere we look on earth, we find life. I assume God created a universe with life. Whether any other planet has intelligent life is questionable.
I call BS. It is not around any star so how does it have any warming of the surface outside of geo-thermal. These big scopes are great for pics and what not but detecting minute amount of trace elements is a little hard for me to believe. And yes, I am familiar with red shift and how they detect entire planets and such but...
Just like LV-426. It was a rock. :)
first I read it a couple days ago on another thread I immediately called it BS and exited the page. not even worth the time making a comment... lol...
They can just overly enhance the image(as usual) and add pretty colors and the’ll get instant followers ooohing and aaaahhhing over it.
Who cares? Don’t these people have better things to do with their time?
“Only” 120 light years away.
be careful!
the ET’s may not wish to be discovered by a race of savage primitives
It keeps them out of trouble..............
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