Last month, the discovery of a molecule in the atmosphere of distant planet K2-18b hinted at the possible presence of life. However, new research urges caution.
Scientists from the University of Chicago argue that the molecule may have been misinterpreted. Their findings, soon to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters, suggest that the signal attributed to dimethylsulfide (DMS) could instead indicate the presence of ethane, a less exciting compound.
The initial excitement stemmed from observations by the James Webb Space Telescope, which detected potential signs of DMS—a molecule associated with life on Earth. However, the new study emphasizes the ambiguity in interpreting such signals and calls for more rigorous analysis.
