Astronomers claim they’ve detected

A new study from the University of Cambridge has revealed what may be the strongest signs yet of possible life outside our solar system. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers focused on the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located around 120 light-years away. They found chemical traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS)—molecules that, on Earth, are only produced by living organisms like marine phytoplankton. Though the probability of these chemical signals occurring by chance is just 0.3 percent, it’s not yet low enough to be classified as a definitive scientific discovery.

The findings build on earlier studies that detected carbon-based molecules in K2-18b’s habitable zone, hinting it could be a water-covered planet beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. This supports the idea of “Hycean worlds”—habitable ocean planets—which Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the research, says fits current data best. While scientists remain cautious, the detection of DMS was much clearer this time. Further telescope observations are planned to confirm the results, and researchers hope they’ll get closer to the low probability threshold needed to confirm life beyond Earth—possibly marking a major turning point in space exploration.