“Most promising signs yet” of alien life on a planet beyond our Solar System

Astronomers say they've found "the most promising signs yet" of chemicals on a planet beyond our Solar System that could indicate the presence of life on its surface. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, the team found a possible 'biosignature' – the potential fingerprint of life – within its atmosphere, although they say they're remaining "cautious", and that this isn't a confirmed detection. The chemicals detected are the same as those produced by marine-dwelling organisms on Earth. The team, led by the University of Cambridge in the UK, detected signs of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. This planet orbits its star in the habitable zone (sometimes called the Goldilocks Zone), which is the region around a star in which an orbiting planet might have conditions suitable for the emergence of life, such as the ability for liquid water to exist on its surface. K2-18b is 8.6 times as massive and 2.6 times as large as Earth and lies 124 lig ... Read full article.