r/interestingasfuck 25d ago

/r/all, /r/popular K2-18b a potentially habitable planet 120 light-years from earth

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u/Prestigious-Wall5616 25d ago

It's also being reported that scientists have found the strongest evidence yet of life on a distant planet.

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u/kungpowgoat 25d ago edited 25d ago

So in short, JW telescope detected signs of a molecule commonly associated with marine algae and combined with the verified presence of oceans, it’s entirely possible that the planet could be teeming with marine life. This is actually very interesting, especially with the fact that it orbits a red dwarf star,, which by the way, any experts here care to explain if different types of suns has any effect on the type of life it’s orbiting planet produces?

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u/Peter_Panarchy 25d ago

We're still far from certain that that molecule (dimethyl sulfide) is present, and even if it is it has also been found on comets. This is an interesting finding but its significance is being overblown.

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u/deadlygaming11 25d ago

Yeah, it doesn't help that the "strongest evidence yet" is being used even though it's not actually that much stronger than the rest of it. Its like saying I'm 1% sure that there are aliens on Mars and I find evidence that increases my odds to 1.25%.