The James Webb Space Telescope has detected hints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18 b, located about 120 light-years away.
DMS is a molecule primarily produced by phytoplankton on Earth, raising the possibility of life on K2-18 b.
However, scientists caution that the evidence for DMS is tenuous and requires further validation through follow-up observations.
The study also found an abundance of carbon-bearing molecules, suggesting a hydrogen-rich atmosphere over an ocean on the exoplanet, which is located in the habitable zone of its star.
While these findings are intriguing, the planet’s habitability remains uncertain and requires more observations to confirm.
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