NASA Discovered A Planet Twice As Big As Earth With A Gas That Is 'Only Produced By Life'

NASA recently made a fascinating discovery with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope. 

They found an exoplanet that's '8.6 times' larger than Earth, with an atmosphere containing gases typically produced by living organisms.

The telescope was launched on December 25, 2021, aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport located in French Guiana, South America.

Since then, it has been making significant observations.

About the planet:

This particular exoplanet is known as K2-18 b, and is sometimes referred to as EPIC 201912552 b. 

It orbits a red dwarf star named K2-18, which NASA describes as being within a 'habitable zone.' 

The exoplanet is known as K12-18 b NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

The planet is situated 124 light years away from Earth and has a radius about 2.6 times that of Earth and a mass 8.6 times greater.

It was initially detected by NASA's Kepler space telescope, launched in 2009. 

However, it was the Webb Telescope's recent mission that allowed a closer examination of the planet’s atmosphere.

The findings

Last year, researchers found that K2-18b has a 'presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide,' according to NASA.

This new information builds on earlier studies suggesting the planet might be a 'Hycean exoplanet.'

Such planets could potentially have a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a surface covered by a water ocean.

NASA further mentioned, "These initial Webb observations also provided a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS)."

Atmosphere on exoplanet K2-18 b NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

But what does this imply about life on K2-18 b?

Is there life?

NASA elaborates by saying that the mix of methane and carbon dioxide, combined with the low levels of ammonia, might support the idea of an ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere on K2-18 b.

They also noted the possible detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a molecule on Earth produced solely by biological processes, particularly by phytoplankton in oceans.

Does the presence of the gases mean there's life on the planet? Getty Stock Images/ David Wall

However, they caution that the planet's large size may suggest it's not conducive to life as we know it. 

This is because the planet's interior might contain a significant amount of high-pressure ice or its ocean might be 'too hot to be habitable or liquid.'

What's next?

Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge, emphasized the significance of considering various types of habitable environments in the search for extraterrestrial life. 

He noted that while the traditional search has focused on smaller, rocky planets, larger Hycean worlds like K2-18b offer better opportunities for atmospheric studies.

On April 26, the Webb telescope dedicated eight continuous hours to observe K2-18b, aiming to gather more data on potential signs of life, as reported by The Times.

Madhusudhan expressed optimism about the upcoming observations with the Webb Telescope, hoping they can confirm the presence of DMS at significant levels in the planet's atmosphere. 

He concluded, "Our ultimate goal is the identification of life on a habitable exoplanet, which would transform our understanding of our place in the universe. 

"Our findings are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest."