Indian-Origin Scientist Discovers Signs of Life on Distant Exoplanet K2-18b Using NASA’s Webb Telescope
In a major breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial life, scientists have found potential biosignatures on exoplanet K2-18b, located over 120 light-years away in the Leo constellation. The research was led by Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan, an Indian-origin astrophysicist and professor at the University of Cambridge, using cutting-edge data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Signs of Life Detected in K2-18b’s Atmosphere
The team detected carbon-rich molecules such as methane and carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere — a possible sign of biological processes. Most notably, they spotted a potential trace of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a molecule that on Earth is only produced by living organisms, primarily marine phytoplankton.
Dr. Madhusudhan called this “the strongest evidence yet” that life could exist beyond Earth, adding, “I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years.”
What Makes K2-18b So Special?
K2-18b is categorized as a sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting the red dwarf star K2-18, situated in its habitable zone — the region where liquid water could exist. About 2.6 times the size of Earth and 8.6 times more massive, K2-18b is believed to be a Hycean world — a planet with hydrogen-rich atmospheres and possibly global oceans.
These features make it a prime candidate for hosting life as we know it, even though it differs significantly from Earth.
Webb Telescope’s Role in the Discovery
JWST’s instruments, including NIRISS (Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph) and NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph), enabled scientists to analyze the atmospheric composition of K2-18b in great detail.
Although the presence of DMS is not yet confirmed, NASA stated that upcoming JWST observations may verify the molecule’s presence, taking the research a step closer to proving life beyond Earth.
About Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan
Dr. Madhusudhan is widely recognized for his work on exoplanet atmospheres, interiors, and biosignatures. An alumnus of IIT-BHU and MIT, he has held prestigious positions at Yale, Princeton, and now Cambridge. His research is redefining the concept of planetary habitability, showing that life may exist even on planets very different from Earth.
“If we confirm that there is life on K2-18b, it should basically confirm that life is very common in the galaxy,” he remarked.