K2-18b

Current context: K2-18b, an exoplanet located 120 light-years away, has shown signs of biosignatures.

Key Details

• Gases Detected: Dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), gases linked to biological processes, have been detected for the first time beyond our solar system.
• Potential Link to Life: These gases are produced by ocean organisms on Earth, suggesting a warm ocean environment on K2-18b.
• Significance: The discovery has sparked theories about extraterrestrial life but remains inconclusive.

About K2-18b

• Super Earth: 6 times the mass of Earth.
• Habitable Zone: Positioned in a region where liquid water could exist.
• Orbit: Orbits a red dwarf star, smaller than the Sun.
• Exoplanets Discovery: Over 5,800 exoplanets discovered since the 1990s.
• Hycean Worlds: Hypothetical planets with oceans and hydrogen-rich atmospheres, potentially suitable for microbial life.