Astronomers have found a strong hint of life on K2-18b, a planet 124 light years away. A recent study detected large amounts of dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a gas associated with marine life on Earth. The discovery was made using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. The team, led by Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge University, believes the chemical presence strengthens the case for extraterrestrial life. However, more studies are needed before drawing conclusions.

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• DMS gas found on K2-18b, linked to life on Earth
• K2-18b orbits star 124 light years from Earth
• Detected using James Webb Space Telescope
• DMS concentrations thousands of times higher than Earth
• Planet lies in star’s habitable “Goldilocks Zone”
• Suggests potential for liquid water, possibly oceans
• Planet is sub-Neptune, bigger than Earth, smaller than Neptune
• Team used light filtering through atmosphere to detect chemicals
• Methane, CO₂ also previously found in 2023 study
• More research needed to confirm DMS behavior and life presence