Strongest 'hints' yet of life detected on distant planet
Astronomers announced Thursday that they had detected the most promising "hints" of potential life on a planet beyond our solar system, though other scientists expressed scepticism.
There has been vigorous debate in scientific circles about whether the planet K2-18b, which is 124 light years away in the Leo constellation, could be an ocean world capable of hosting microbial life, at least.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a British-US team of researchers detected signs of two chemicals in the planet's atmosphere long considered to be "biosignatures" indicating extraterrestrial life.
On Earth, the chemicals dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide are produced only by life, mostly microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton.
The researchers emphasised caution, saying that more observations were needed to confirm these findings, and that they were not announcing a definitive discovery.
But the implications could be huge, according to Nikku Madhusudhan, a Cambridge University astrophysicist and lead author of the study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"What we are finding at this point are hints of possible biological activity outside the solar system," he told journalists.
"Frankly, I think this is the closest we have come to seeing a feature that we can attribute to life."
But outside experts pointed to disputes over previous discoveries about the exoplanet, adding that these chemicals could have been created by unknown means having nothing to do with life.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
15-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia to Launch First Space Weather Satellite
Saudi Arabia has signed a landmark agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch its first satellite dedicated to studying space weather, under the Artemis II deal marks a new milestone in Saudi–US scientific cooperation and reinforces the Kingdom's role in global space exploration during the official visit of US President Donald Trump to Riyadh, the agreement builds upon the broader US–Saudi space cooperation framework formalized in July 2024 and reflects the growing strength of bilateral ties in science, technology, and innovation. The mission, led by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Artemis Accords — an international framework promoting peaceful and collaborative exploration of the Moon, Mars, and new satellite will collect high-resolution data on solar activity and its effects on Earth's magnetic field, contributing to global efforts to protect astronauts, improve satellite navigation and communications, and enhance space weather forecasting. The initiative falls under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), a Vision 2030 realization program aimed at advancing domestic industrial content and building national expertise in strategic technologies. It also aligns with the Kingdom's goal of becoming a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy and bolstering local talent in the growing space sector. Also read: Elon Musk: Starlink Has Been Approved In Saudi Arabia
Daily Tribune
17-04-2025
- Daily Tribune
Strongest 'hints' yet of life detected on distant planet
Astronomers announced Thursday that they had detected the most promising "hints" of potential life on a planet beyond our solar system, though other scientists expressed scepticism. There has been vigorous debate in scientific circles about whether the planet K2-18b, which is 124 light years away in the Leo constellation, could be an ocean world capable of hosting microbial life, at least. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a British-US team of researchers detected signs of two chemicals in the planet's atmosphere long considered to be "biosignatures" indicating extraterrestrial life. On Earth, the chemicals dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide are produced only by life, mostly microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton. The researchers emphasised caution, saying that more observations were needed to confirm these findings, and that they were not announcing a definitive discovery. But the implications could be huge, according to Nikku Madhusudhan, a Cambridge University astrophysicist and lead author of the study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. "What we are finding at this point are hints of possible biological activity outside the solar system," he told journalists. "Frankly, I think this is the closest we have come to seeing a feature that we can attribute to life." But outside experts pointed to disputes over previous discoveries about the exoplanet, adding that these chemicals could have been created by unknown means having nothing to do with life.
Daily Tribune
03-04-2025
- Daily Tribune
World's tiniest pacemaker is smaller than grain of rice
AFP | Paris Scientists said Wednesday they have developed the world's tiniest pacemaker, a temporary heartbeat regulator smaller than a grain of rice that can be injected and controlled by light before dissolving. While still years away from being tested in humans, the wireless pacemaker was hailed as a 'transformative breakthrough' that could spur advances in other areas of medicine. Millions of people across the world have permanent pacemakers, which stimulate hearts with electrical pulses to ensure they beat normally. The US-led team of researchers behind the new device said they were motivated to help the one percent of children born with congenital heart defects who need a temporary pacemaker in the week after surgery. The pacemaker could also help adults restore a normal heartbeat as they recover from heart surgery. Currently, temporary pacemakers require surgery to sew electrodes onto heart muscles, with wires connecting to a powered device on the patient's chest. When the pacemaker is no longer needed, doctors or nurses pull out the wires, which can sometimes cause damage. Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, died from internal bleeding after h i s temporary pacemaker was removed in 2012. But the newly developed pacemaker is wireless. And at just one millimetre thick and 3.5 millimetres long, it can fit into the tip of a syringe. It has also been designed to dissolve in to the body when no longer needed, sparing patients invasive surgery. 'Significant leap forward' The pacemaker is paired to a soft patch worn on the patient's chest, according to a study describing the device in the journal Nature. When the patch detects irregular heartbeats, it automatically flashes light that tells the pacemaker what heartbeat it should stimulate. The pacemaker is powered by what is called a galvanic cell, which uses the body's fluids to convert chemical energy into electrical pulses that stimulate the heart. So far, the pacemaker has worked effectively in tests on mice, rats, pigs, dogs and human heart tissue in the lab, according to the study. Senior study author John Rogers of Northwestern University in the United States told AFP he estimated the pacemaker could be tested in humans in two to three years. His lab has launched a startup to pursue this goal, he added. In the future, the underlying technology could also 'create unique and powerful strategies to address societal challenges in human health,' Rogers said. Bozhi Tian, whose lab at the University of Chicago has also developed light-activated pacemakers but was not involved in the latest research, called it a 'significant leap forward'. 'This new pacemaker is a transformative breakthrough in medical technology,' he told AFP. 'It's a paradigm shift in temporary pacing and bioelectronic medicine, opening up possibilities far beyond cardiology -- including nerve regeneration, wound healing and integrated smart implants.' Heart disease is the world's leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization.
