https://mashable.com/article/james-webb-space-telescope-exoplanet-discovery-1
While the James Webb Space Telescope observed the atmosphere of an alien world 120 light-years away, it picked up hints of a substance only made by living things — at least, that is, on Earth.
This molecule, known as dimethyl sulfide, is primarily produced by phytoplankton, microscopic plant-like organisms in salty seas as well as freshwater..
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The detection by Webb, a powerful infrared telescope in space run by NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies, is part of a new investigation into K2-18 b, an exoplanet almost nine times Earth's mass in the constellation Leo. The study also found an abundance of carbon-bearing molecules, such as methane and carbon dioxide. This discovery bolsters previous work suggesting the distant world has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere hanging over an ocean.
Such planets believed to exist in the universe are called Hycean, combining the words "hydrogen" and "ocean."
"This (dimethyl sulfide) molecule is unique to life on Earth: There is no other way this molecule is produced on Earth," said astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan in a University of Cambridge video. "So it has been predicted to be a very good biosignature in exoplanets and habitable exoplanets, including Hycean worlds."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66786611
Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope may have discovered tentative evidence of a sign of life on a faraway planet.
It may have detected a molecule called dimethyl sulphide (DMS). On Earth, at least, this is only produced by life.
The researchers stress that the detection on the planet 120 light years away is "not robust" and more data is needed to confirm its presence.
Researchers have also detected methane and CO2 in the planet's atmosphere.
Detection of these gases could mean the planet, named K2-18b, has a water ocean.
Just noticed that this has also been posted on the "Human Alien interaction" thread but I think it deserves its own thread rather than being lumped in with a thread on alien visitations, flying saucers etc
viewtopic.php?p=614733#p614733
and
viewtopic.php?p=614774#p614774
Stevenson wrote:On Earth, DMS is only produced by life. The bulk of it in Earth's atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments," he said.
Not to be a wet blanket, since I'm fascinated by this and it's impossible that there are no other civilisations, but DMS is also made industrially. We used to use it in the labs, but I can't remember why.
You just need hydrogen sulphide, methanol and aluminium.
But I'm not sure where the methanol would come from.
So fingers crossed!
Of course industrial production implies life ( or possibly a machine civilisation produced by now extinct life ).