Report of possible life on remote planet a ‘big deal': Journalist
Scientists at the University of Cambridge say they have detected what could be chemical signs of life on a planet known as K2-18b, which is 124 light-years away from Earth. They say they came to their conclusion by analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Specifically, the researchers say dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide appears to be present in the atmosphere of K2-18b, which orbits a star. The compounds are produced primarily by microbial life, such as marine phytoplankton, on Earth.
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Coulthart is among the observers who find the information encouraging — but well short of a firm conclusion.
'It's a big deal, but it's still very, very tentative,' Coulthart told 'NewsNation Prime' on Sunday. 'There are doubters and debunkers.'
Still, he said, it's notable that scientists can interpret data generated by the Webb Telescope.
'I really do think we are on the cusp of finding planets that are habitable for life,' Coulthart said.
As for getting closer to confirm whether K2-18b has life, that's not realistic, he said.
'There's no way we can send a robotic drone there because it would take billions of lifetimes to get there,' Coulthart said. 'There's no really solid way of proving it, beyond doing more accurate measurements of the wavelengths of light.'
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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