Is there really life on planet K2-18b? We can’t rule it out, but some key questions must be answered | Nathalie Cabrol
AI have entered the science of rituals at a new, exciting stage in recent decades. Since the 1990s, but the acceleration in recent years, researchers have begun to confirm the existence of external planets – that is, planets outside our solar system – and study their property. Now we know that the planets are common, and a large part in the area suitable for the mother star – indicating that they can have conditions to preserve biological life.
Studies also revealed completely new categories of worlds that we had no idea. The planets of Hessian are unknown in our solar system, and it may be one of the strangest planets that have been discovered so far. Oceania-covered worlds with hydrogen-rich atmosphere, and in this way they are candidates and promising to detect bio-design gases-chemical products that we connect to living organisms. But this is not the only possibility. Their discovery has expanded our concept of pledge and challenging our concepts about the types of environments that can preserve life – as we know and as we do not.
Against this background, modern James Web telescope notes From K2-18B, a planet revolving around a red dwarf of 124 light-year-old light, stands out. The latest study, published last week in the speeches of the Astronomical Physics Magazine by a team led by Niko Madosodhan, reported a temporary discovery of the DMS or DMDS sulfide, which we know are produced by living organisms. While the media tends to focus on the exciting possibility of The presence of life on a remote planetIt seems unlikely to be the permanent contribution of this study. The authors also admit, the discovered signal indicates the presence of modest gases, and other studies may contradict some of its claims.
But first, let’s understand why these results can be exciting. Astronomers who consider DMS and DMDS are vital reasonable candidates, or signs of life, especially on planets with hydrogen -dominated atmosphere. On Earth, marine microorganisms are the main DMS producers. Researchers often cite their presence in theoretical models of sulfur -based vital oceans: places where life may flourish in a high sulfur environment. But there are also known vital paths (not involved in life) that can produce gases. One of them is optical decomposition or electrical discharge in the environments rich in hydrogen and methane, where light or electrical energy can push the composition of these gases. These tracks It is confirmed by experiments, although it does not produce much DMS or DMDS, and the resulting molecules tend to live in the short atmosphere.
The study argues that the abundance extracted from these gases on K2-18B will be difficult to maintain indirectly without strong sources or specific weather conditions. According to the study, the lack of discovery of compound hydrogen sulfide (H2S) makes it difficult to explain the presence of sulfur -based gases such as DMS by non -biological processes, since H2S is often an essential component in the absolute chemical paths. On the other hand, scientists cannot completely exclude non -living sources, because in the past DMS discovered an important comet.
The discovery of the reported DMS or DMDS though is definitely not permanently. The data cannot distinguish between the two molecules due to its similar infrared features: to detection tools, both signals look very similar. The level of detection remains within the field where researchers cannot exclude false positives or error presented by experimental equipment. Another important warning: additional information necessary to explain data with a missing accuracy, especially the environmental characteristics of the planet. Other studies are still wondering if K2-18B has a surface, water, or arid.
This contextual information is always very important to analyze appropriate data. Life looks forward to its environment, and therefore if we don’t know much about the environment on a planet, it is difficult to determine whether the possible significance of life is logical. This is difficult in the solar system and more difficult for external planets, because we can only reach them through remote observation. For this reason, chemical signals in the form of pollutants in the atmosphere may actually be the most solid candidate for the presence of life on a planet outside the planets. Some pollutants are a secondary result of industrial operations or specific technological activities that are not expected to occur naturally in large quantities on a planet. But DMS and DMDS do not fall into this category; With them, we left with the annoying mystery that accompanies most of our potential vital ranges.
However, this study achieves an important thing that exceeds its speculation of life. It suggests a methodology that pushes the limits of what can be done through our current technique (some will say very far) in the study of external planets. It also helps us to determine the steps that we must take along with refute or verify the authenticity of its results. For example, it is difficult to maintain the arguments that the abundance of DMS or DMDS extracted in the atmosphere through study through non -living processes to develop new research can seek theoretical, experimental and experimental to the presence of these potential non -biological paths. Thanks to this, the authors call for “custom societal efforts”. But so that we can prove the lack of vital sources, it is too early to refer from these molecules to the presence of life on the K2-18B.
While the paper has repeatedly emphasizes the primary nature of the results and the need for more data, the general data by the main author has sometimes conveyed a stronger feeling of confidence than the published evidence support. When this happens, we miss the very important opportunity to understand that science is progressing carefully, gradually, and with eyes wide open to strengths and restrictions. There is always room for unusual conclusions, but it must be supported with convincing evidence. We are all enthusiastic about creating one day soon, we will find unambiguous evidence for life outside the ground. We are not there yet. But we must celebrate what extent we have reached, and how every additional part of knowledge takes us closer to a final answer.
