THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

Researchers Find Signs of Life on Distant Planet for First Time

The massive planet, known as K2-18b, orbits another star roughly 120 light-years from Earth.

A team of scientists have discovered a molecule on a far-away planet that may indicate that it holds some form of life. The massive world, known as K2-18b, orbits another star roughly 120 light-years from Earth. It has an atmosphere that contains dimethyl sulfide, a substance made of sulfur, carbon, and hydrogen that on Earth has only one known source: ocean algae. The finding suggests that the planet may have oceans of its own that contain life. Astronomers at the University of Cambridge who made the discovery were quick to note that it is not concrete proof of life—though “It’s not nothing,” one American researcher added after learning the news. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, one of the study’s authors. But, he added, “This is a revolutionary moment … It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”