Alien Life Signs Found? NASA Researcher Shares Thoughts
"Life signs will undoubtedly be detected"
Groundbreaking Discovery? Not quite. A recent study indicating the discovery of life on a distant exoplanet has sparked excitement, but a renowned astronomer from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany, has expressed skepticism. The study, which detected the presence of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b, a planet 124 light-years away, is far from a conclusive proof of habitability.
Meet the Expert We talked to Laura Kreidberg, an award-winning American astronomer who specializes in studying the atmospheres of exoplanets using space telescopes to unveil the secrets of distant worlds.
The Big Question Does the detection of these sulfur compounds suggest extraterrestrial life? No, Laura is not convinced. Although the discovery is enticing, it's still far from offering reliable evidence of a habitable planet, in her opinion.
A Little About K2-18b This planet is nothing like Earth. With a radius twice that of our planet and an atmosphere containing plenty of hydrogen, it may offer conditions for a liquid water layer, potentially an ocean. However, the chances of that are uncertain.
Why the Doubt? The authors of the paper concluded that the existence of DMS and DMDS best fits the data for the exoplanet's atmosphere. However, subsequent studies have examined other molecules and found they too fit the data well without these biosignature gases. The presence of these compounds remains questionable.
Biosignatures In exoplanet research, scientists are on the lookout for substances, molecules, or phenomena that offer hints of life. These include water, oxygen, and methane, which are examined via the light of stars with telescopes in search of potential biosignatures.
Biosignature Ranking So, it's still uncertain whether these molecules exist on the planet. Sulfur compounds DMS and DMDS are not high on the list of priority biosignature candidates. Oxygen and methane, which are convincing signs of life on Earth, take precedence.
Combining Oxygen and Methane Oxygen and methane are both exclusively produced by living beings on Earth. When combined, they quickly react with each other and form other molecules, which is challenging to maintain under normal conditions without life. If astronomers were to detect large quantities of both gases on an exoplanet, it would be indicative of continuous biological activity.
The Future of Exoplanet Research With powerful new telescopes in development, such as the European Extremely Large Telescope in Chile, scientists hope to expand their search for biosignatures on distant Earth-like planets in the near future. More advanced telescopes like the "Habitable Worlds Observatory" of NASA, designed specifically for observing Earth-like planets' biosignatures, offer great promise for the future.
The Hope for Extraterrestrial Life Although we aren't likely to find signs of extraterrestrial life tomorrow, Laura is optimistic about the existence of life on other planets. With trillions of potentially habitable rocky planets in our galaxy, the chances are promising. With more powerful telescopes and improved atmospheric modeling,Laura believes we'll find definitive evidence of life on distant exoplanets in the future.
The Commission could propose a directive on the protection of the environment, integrating scientific knowledge from health-and-wellness and environmental-science, as a step towards safeguarding the planet's health, considering the ongoing research in space and astronomy hinting at the presence of life on distant planets.
As Laura Kreidberg continues her research, she may examine the potential combination of oxygen and methane in the atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets, which, if found in large quantities, could be a significant environmental-science discovery and a potential biosignature for life, just as these gases are on Earth.
