Current:Home > Contact-usNASA's James Webb Space Telescope observes planet in a distant galaxy that might support life-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope observes planet in a distant galaxy that might support life
View Date:2024-12-25 09:24:57
NASA'S James Webb Space Telescope observed a planet outside of our galaxy that might be able to support life. Webb discovered the presence of methane and carbon dioxide on the exoplanet K2-18 b, which is 8.6 times the size of Earth. This indicates K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet.
Exoplanets are planets beyond our solar system and Hycean, which comes from a combination of "hydrogen" and "ocean," describes planets that scientists hypothesize have hydrogen-rich atmospheres and liquid-water oceans, according to Space.com.
There was also a possible detection of dimethyl sulfide dimethyl sulfide, known as DMS, on K2-18 b. DMS is a molecule that, when on Earth, is produced by life, according to NASA.
K2-18 b is in the habitable zone, which means its distance from a star may allow water to exist on its surface. These zones are also known as "Goldilocks zones," taking their name from the old children's story because conditions are "just right" for life.
Not only did the planet show an abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, but also a shortage of ammonia. This means an ocean may exist under K2-18 b's hydrogen-rich atmosphere, according to NASA.
The DMS on the planet also leads researchers to believe there could be life on the planet, since DMS in Earth's atmosphere is created by phytoplankton, a marine algae that provides food to sea creatures and is created by sunlight.
"Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if DMS is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels," said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the paper on these observations.
Planets like K2-12 b are still "poorly understood," NASA says. However, some astronomers believe they could be a promising place to search for life.
"Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere," Madhusudhan said. "Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations."
The exoplanet's oceans could be too hot to support life. But while K2-18 b has carbon-bearing molecules, it is not yet known if the planet could support life, according to NASA.
There have only been two observations of K2-18 b but there are "many more on the way," said Savvas Constantinou of the University of Cambridge, who worked on the Webb team that observed the exoplanet. "This means our work here is but an early demonstration of what Webb can observe in habitable-zone exoplanets."
- In:
- James Webb Space Telescope
- NASA
Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Zendaya Shares When She Feels Extra Safe With Boyfriend Tom Holland
- Patrick Mahomes Breaks Silence on Frustrating Robbery Amid Ongoing Investigation
- RHOP's Candiace Dillard Bassett Gives Birth, Shares First Photos of Baby Boy
- Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.
- Colorado police shot, kill mountain lion after animal roamed on school's campus
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
- Louisiana asks court to block part of ruling against Ten Commandments in classrooms
- A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS funding
- When do new episodes of 'Cobra Kai' Season 6 come out? Release date, cast, where to watch
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation picks up slightly in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
- ‘Emilia Pérez’ wouldn’t work without Karla Sofía Gascón. Now, she could make trans history
- FanDuel Sports Network regional channels will be available as add-on subscription on Prime Video
- Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico
- Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650 million, just 3 years after buying the app for $7.3 billion
- Larry Hobbs, who guided AP’s coverage of Florida news for decades, has died at 83
- Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
Recommendation
-
Jennifer Lopez Turns Wicked Premiere Into Family Outing With 16-Year-Old Emme
-
Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
-
Taylor Swift drops Christmas merchandise collection, including for 'Tortured Poets' era
-
Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
-
Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
-
California man allegedly shot couple and set their bodies, Teslas on fire in desert
-
RHOP's Candiace Dillard Bassett Gives Birth, Shares First Photos of Baby Boy
-
'Full House' star Dave Coulier diagnosed with stage 3 cancer