Researchers: Information on life beyond our solar system

According to its own statements, an international research team has found the most clear indications of life outside of our solar system. With the help of the James-Webb-Wristelescop, the team led by Nikku Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge found indication for the two fabrics dimethyl sulfide in the atmosphere of the 124 light-year-old planet K2-18b. You interpret this as possible signs of life.

Because: On earth, these connections of microorganisms, for example from Phytoplankton in the oceans, would be produced, the group reports in the journal « The Astrophysical Journal Letters ». But on the one hand, the fabrics could also have arisen in another, previously unknown way, the team admits. In addition, her presence in the atmosphere of the planet was not proven with absolute certainty.

For the investigation, the team used the fact that K2-18B regularly passed from Earth from Earth in front of its home star-a red dwarf-and temporarily shady it. During such a transit, the star examines the atmosphere of the planet from behind. The observation of which parts of the star light are swallowed by the planetary atmosphere in principle enables an analysis of the chemical composition of the air cover.

So -called super earth is around two and a half times as large as the earth

The planet K2-18B in the Lion constellation has long been the focus of astronomers. It was discovered in 2015, is 8.6 times heavier and 2.6 times larger than the earth. A few years ago, researchers found water on a planet in the lifelong zone of another star on this so -called super earth. As a life -friendly or potentially habitable zone, the area around a star in which the temperatures allow the existence of liquid water on a planet. Liquid water is the basic requirement for life as we know it.

Methane and carbon dioxide had already been found in the atmosphere of the planet. The team around Madhusudhan had also discovered information on DMS in the nearby infrared area. These have now been confirmed for the middle infrared area. This is a second document, determined with another instrument and on a different wavelength, Madhusudhan is quoted in a statement from his university. « The signal came through strongly and clearly. »

Can the observations be confirmed?

If the observations are correct, the concentration of the connections would be stronger thousands of times than on Earth: Here they are below one particle per billion particles, on the other hand, it would be at least ten particles per million. Now the observations would have to be confirmed, the researchers write. « The central question now is whether we are able to identify the signatures of life in other worlds. »

The “James Webb” telescope was built together by the space authorities in Europe (ESA), the USA (NASA) and Canada (CSA) and started in space at the end of 2021 – after there were previously cost explosions and always new shifts.