Latest news with #habitableZone
Sustainability Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'I Was Convinced We'd Found Aliens': Scientists Backtrack on K2-18b Breakthrough Before Revealing the Devastating Truth
IN A NUTSHELL 🔍 Researchers re-examined data on K2-18b , broadening the pool of atmospheric chemicals from 20 to 90, weakening earlier claims of alien life. , broadening the pool of atmospheric chemicals from 20 to 90, weakening earlier claims of alien life. 🌌 Initial excitement was sparked by the detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), considered potential biosignatures. and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), considered potential biosignatures. 📊 Updated studies found no statistically significant evidence of these compounds, highlighting the need for robust scientific methods . . 🔭 Advanced technology and future observations are crucial for gaining a clearer understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres and the potential for life. In recent years, the search for extraterrestrial life has captivated scientists and the public alike, with the focus often landing on distant exoplanets like K2-18b. Located 124 light-years away in the Leo constellation, this intriguing planet resides within the habitable zone of its star, sparking hope for the potential presence of life. However, recent research has cast doubt on earlier claims of alien life signs on K2-18b, urging scientists to remain cautious. This article delves into the ongoing debate, examining updated data, scientific methodologies, and the future of such explorations. Re-evaluating the Evidence: A Shift in Perspective The initial excitement over potential biosignatures on K2-18b stemmed from the detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) by astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope. These compounds, known to be produced by marine algae on Earth, were considered potential indicators of life. However, a re-examination of the data by researchers, including former students of Nikku Madhusudhan, has altered this perspective. By broadening the pool of possible atmospheric chemicals from 20 to 90, the team found that the signals no longer uniquely pointed to biological explanations. Madhusudhan and his colleagues highlighted the necessity of employing alternative statistical models to re-evaluate the evidence. Their updated approach included a list of 650 potential atmospheric chemicals, underscoring the complexity of identifying biosignatures. This re-evaluation has significantly weakened the case for a biological explanation, illustrating the importance of skepticism and thorough analysis in scientific discovery. 'Super-Earths Are Everywhere': New Study Reveals These Giant Alien Worlds Are Far More Common Than Scientists Ever Imagined Scientific Methodologies: The Quest for Precision The search for life on exoplanets like K2-18b relies heavily on precise scientific methodologies. Astronomers analyze distant planets by observing their transit across host stars, which allows them to study how molecules in the atmosphere absorb specific wavelengths of starlight. This method, while powerful, is fraught with challenges. Recent studies combining observations in both near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths found no statistically significant evidence for DMS or DMDS, further complicating the case for life. Postdoctoral researcher Rafael Luque and Oxford astrophysicist Jake Taylor contributed to this discourse by employing different statistical methods. Taylor's basic statistical approach found no strong signs of biosignatures, emphasizing the need for robust methods and comprehensive data. The inconsistencies in findings highlight the complexities involved in interpreting astronomical data, urging scientists to continuously refine their techniques. 'Doomsday Coming Sooner Than You Think': This Groundbreaking Study Reveals the Imminent Threat Facing Humanity and Why We Need to Act Now The Role of Advanced Technology in Space Exploration Advanced technology plays a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of distant exoplanets. The James Webb Space Telescope, with its ability to capture detailed atmospheric data, has been instrumental in the ongoing research of K2-18b. However, as Madhusudhan pointed out, more data is needed to draw definitive conclusions. As technology evolves, so too does the precision and scope of astronomical research. Future observations, made possible by technological advancements, will enhance our understanding of planets like K2-18b. As more data is collected over the next year, scientists hope to paint a clearer picture of the atmospheric composition and potential for life. This ongoing technological evolution promises to deepen our knowledge of the universe and our place within it. 'They're Coming From Space!': Mysterious Radio Signals Repeating Every 2 Hours Identified in That Distant Star System Looking Forward: The Future of Exoplanetary Research As the debate over K2-18b continues, the scientific community remains committed to uncovering the truth about alien life. The conflicting findings underscore the need for a cautious approach, where claims are rigorously tested and re-tested. The journey to discover extraterrestrial life is a marathon, not a sprint, demanding patience and perseverance. Looking forward, the collection of new data and the refinement of analytical methods will be crucial. The pursuit of knowledge about exoplanets like K2-18b serves as a reminder of humanity's insatiable curiosity and the endless possibilities that lie beyond our home planet. As we continue to explore the cosmos, what new revelations await us on distant worlds? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (26)
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Super Earth in ‘Goldilocks zone' discovered with new alien-hunting tool – now it will search for more habitable planets
SCIENTISTS have stumbled across a new Super-Earth that orbits inside its star's habitable zone with a new alien-hunting tool. Searching for Earth -like planets - and Earth-like life - is the ultimate goal for planetary science. 3 3 And finding planets that lie in the Goldilocks zone of their sun-like stars – where the conditions are 'just right' to possibly host life – is key to that mission. An international team of scientists, led by the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), have used a new technique to find these potentially habitable worlds. It's called the Transit Timing Variation (TTV) technique - which looks for changes in the predicted transit times of an exoplanet. If the time changes, it could indicate the presence of other unseen planets in the system that are gravitationally influencing the transiting planet. The technique is a good way to detect smaller planets that would otherwise be difficult to find By analysing the TTV signals of Kepler-725b, a gas giant planet in the same system, the team were able to find its hidden sister planet Kepler-725c, according to a new study published in Nature Astronomy. Researchers said the technique offers a promising alternative in the hunt for "Earth 2.0." Kepler-725c has 10 times the mass of Earth and is located in the habitable zone of the sun-like star Kepler-725. It receives roughly 1.4 times the solar radiation than Earth does. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' Located in the Lyra constellation, the Super Earth planet completes an orbit of its nearby star every 207.5 days. During part of this orbit, the planet enters its star's habitable zone - meaning it could host alien life. Little else is known about the planet so far. It is the first time it has been used to discover a Super-Earth, a type of rocky exoplanet that is larger than Earth but too small to be considered a gas giant like Neptune. Astronomers have relied on alternative techniques to find exoplanets for decades. Like the transit method, where astronomers track how the light from a host star dims when a planet passes in front of it. Or through radial velocity (RV) observations, which is when scientists watch the slight wobble of a star as it interacts with the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. However, both of these techniques have their flaws and make it difficult to detect planets with long orbital periods. The transit approach, for example, requires a planet's orbit to align exactly with our line of sight from Earth. Whereas the RV method requires extremely high-precision measurements, which makes it harder to find smaller planets.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How Venus-Like Exo-Planets Can Help Map Nearby Habitable Zones
Surface of Venus. Hot lava flows on Venus. 3d illustration The old adage that it's easier to prove a negative could play a crucial role in characterizing nearby exoplanets that could harbor life. The idea is that looking for earth-like planets is tough enough without wasting time on false positives. Yet the authors of a recent paper appearing in the journal Science Advances propose using the detection of sulfur dioxide in the atmospheres of extrasolar Venus-like planetary hellholes to serve as a negative chemical marker for water and life as we know it. It's really difficult to look at the exoplanet population and identify habitable planets that have liquid surface water, Sean Jordan, the paper's lead author and a planetary scientist at ETH Zurich, tells me at the recent European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2025 in Vienna. But if you can identify sulfur dioxide in their atmospheres, that is a negative sign for water, says Jordan. That's a telltale sign that that, at least for now these planets don't have liquid water and are not going to be a great place to look for life, he says. We show that the inner edge of the habitable zone can now be mapped among exoplanets using their lack of surface water, which, unlike the presence of water, can be unambiguously revealed by atmospheric sulfur, the authors write. For instance, sulfur dioxide is abundant in our own Venus's atmosphere compared to Earth but the authors note is expected to be scrubbed from habitable planetary atmospheres by precipitation. These types of searches would also enable planetary astrophysicists to finally define the inner edge of habitable zones around dozens of nearby M-dwarf spectral type stars. Such stars range in size from about a tenth to a half the mass of our own G-type star. And, perhaps most importantly for astrobiology, have exceedingly long lifetimes on the so-called main sequence, as hydrogen burning stars. Not only are red dwarf stars the most common stars and planetary systems in the galaxy, but they are geometrically favorable because they're smaller, so we get higher planet to star size ratios, says Jordan. This gives us a bigger signal when these planets transit in front of their parent stars, he says. Until now, a key challenge has been defining a given solar system's so-called habitable zone, the most simplistic definition of which is where a given terrestrial planet can harbor liquid water on its surface. Whether planets orbiting these M dwarf stars can even hold on to atmospheres at all remains an open question, says Jordan. That's because they're being blasted with so much extreme ultraviolet and X ray radiation, he says. In truth, given its size and mass, our planet Venus is virtually an astrophysical twin to our own Earth. But that's where most of the comparisons end, since Venus' surface is hot enough to melt lead and its atmospheric pressures are more than 90 times that of our own. Yet as is oft repeated, if we can't understand the planet next door, what hope do we have of understanding the thousands of new extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered by astronomers in the last three decades? Estimates of the inner edge of the habitable zone depend heavily on modeling assumptions and whether or not a planet has evolved from a 'hot start' or a 'cold start,' the authors note. Models of slowly rotating planets initialized with surface water oceans (a cold start) can maintain habitable conditions well inside the traditional Venus zone of a star via a cloud-climate feedback, they write. With NASA's Webb Space Telescope, the critical next step in testing the origin and prevalence of life on nearby exoplanets lies in mapping the inner edges of habitable zones around M-dwarf host stars, the authors note. Positively identifying a Venus-like atmosphere, with a surface too hot to support liquid water, is imperative in constraining habitability among the rocky exoplanet population, they write. We can't say yet with any certainty whether Venus was born dead, and water only ever existed as steam in a really hot atmosphere that was eventually lost, or whether it was habitable, says Jordan. But the question of whether our Venus could have ever been habitable in the past will have sweeping implications for the possible habitability of Venus-like exoplanets, he says. As for Earth? We're very fortunate to have a planet where all of these stabilizing climate feedbacks are occurring, but we don't know how prevalent that is in the universe, says Jordan.
