"Webb Telescope Uncovers Promising Signs of Life on Exoplanet with Rare Oceans"

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Source: WCVB Boston
"Webb Telescope Uncovers Promising Signs of Life on Exoplanet with Rare Oceans"
Photo: WCVB Boston
TL;DR Summary

The James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered evidence suggesting that the exoplanet K2-18b, located about 120 light-years from Earth, may have the necessary conditions to support bodies of water and potentially even life. The planet, which closely orbits a cool dwarf star within its habitable zone, has an atmosphere rich in methane and carbon dioxide, along with a scarcity of ammonia. These findings, along with the detection of a special molecule called dimethyl sulfide, hint at the possibility of an ocean world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. While further research is needed to confirm the presence of life, these observations expand scientists' understanding of exoplanets and their potential for hosting life.

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