EARTH.COM - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) represents a remarkable advancement in astronomical observation. In 2023, initial reports suggested that JWST had detected potential signs of life on the distant exoplanet K2-18b.
Understandably, this news generated considerable excitement within the scientific community and among the general public. However, a recent study offers a more cautious interpretation of the data, emphasizing the challenges of definitively identifying extraterrestrial life.
“The best biosignatures on an exoplanet may differ significantly from those we find most abundant on Earth today. On a planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, we may be more likely to find DMS made by life instead of oxygen made by plants and bacteria as on Earth,” stated UCR astrobiologist Eddie Schwieterman.