Astronomers have discovered compelling evidence of potential extraterrestrial life on a planet located 124 light years away from Earth, sparking excitement and caution among the global scientific community. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom identified chemical signatures of two compounds typically produced by living organisms on Earth.
“This is the first indication we have of a possible inhabited alien world,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomy professor at Cambridge and the lead researcher behind the groundbreaking discovery. The planet in question, K2-18b, is situated in the constellation Leo and is located in the habitable zone of its sun, where conditions could support liquid water on the surface.
In 2023, scientists detected methane and carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere, marking the first time carbon-based molecules had been found on a planet in the habitable zone of its sun. Further analysis revealed traces of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, compounds typically associated with living organisms on Earth, at significantly higher concentrations than on our planet.
While the findings have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, indicating credibility, researchers remain cautious about definitively confirming the presence of life on K2-18b. Additional investigations and tests are required to validate these exciting results.
The discovery by the Cambridge-led team adds to a series of recent breakthroughs suggesting the potential for extraterrestrial life in our universe. However, the journey of scientific exploration also includes setbacks, as past claims of finding signs of life on other planets have not always withstood scrutiny.
Moving forward, the researchers plan to continue their investigations to further understand the implications of their findings and confirm the potential existence of life on K2-18b. Tapi meskipun itu terdengar seperti skor yang hampir sempurna, itu jauh dari apa yang diterima sebagai patokan untuk penemuan baru menurut standar ilmiah yang ketat.
Untuk kesimpulan mereka dianggap tahan peluru, mereka perlu mencapai apa yang dikenal sebagai ambang batas lima-sigma – 99.99994 persen keyakinan.
Para astronom yakin bahwa lebih banyak jam di teleskop James Webb dapat membantu mereka mencapai tingkat konfirmasi itu.
“Puluhan tahun dari sekarang, kita mungkin melihat kembali pada titik ini dan menyadari bahwa saat ketika alam semesta hidup berada dalam jangkauan,” kata Madhusudhan. “Ini bisa menjadi titik balik, di mana tiba-tiba pertanyaan mendasar apakah kita sendirian di alam semesta adalah yang bisa kita jawab.”