News Astronomy

A claimed hint of alien life whips up spirited debate

There’s a lot to unpack behind hints of biosignatures on the far-off world K2 18b

A view of a blue planet from space, with sunlight illuminating its atmosphere and clouds, and a glowing red star visible in the distance against a backdrop of stars.

Some astronomers think the distant planet K2 18b (illustrated) may be an ocean world capable of hosting life.

A. Smith, N. Madhusudhan/Univ. of Cambridge

By Lisa Grossman

You may have already seen the headlines: Signs of life have reportedly been discovered on an alien world. 

A team of astronomers led by Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge used the James Webb Space Telescope to search for interesting molecules in the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system called K2 18b.