Experts are optimistic of detecting life signs on a faraway world within our lifetimes - possibly in the next few years.
Alien life in Universe: Scientists say finding it is ‘only a matter of time’::Experts are optimistic of detecting life signs on a faraway world within our lifetimes - possibly in the next few years.
Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected tantalising hints at life on a planet outside our Solar System - and it has many more worlds in its sights.
The planet is in what astronomers call '‘the Goldilocks zone’ - the right distance away from its star for the surface temperature to be neither too hot nor too cold, but just right for there to be liquid water, which is essential to support life.
Prof Nikku Madhusudhan of the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University, who led the study, told me that if the hints are confirmed “it would radically change the way we think about the search for life”.
That has injected fresh impetus, according to Dr Nathalie Cabrol, director of Seti’s Carl Sagan Center for the study of life in the Universe.
But chemical signatures from faraway atmospheres, interesting readings from moon flybys and even microfossils from Mars are all open to interpretation, Dr Cabrol argues.
All the elements are in place for a discovery that will be more than just an incredible scientific breakthrough, according to Dr Subhajit Sarker of Cardiff University, who is a member of the team studying K2-18b.
The original article contains 1,297 words, the summary contains 194 words. Saved 85%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected tantalising hints at life on a planet outside our Solar System - and it has many more worlds in its sights.
The planet is in what astronomers call '‘the Goldilocks zone’ - the right distance away from its star for the surface temperature to be neither too hot nor too cold, but just right for there to be liquid water, which is essential to support life.
Prof Nikku Madhusudhan of the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University, who led the study, told me that if the hints are confirmed “it would radically change the way we think about the search for life”.
That has injected fresh impetus, according to Dr Nathalie Cabrol, director of Seti’s Carl Sagan Center for the study of life in the Universe.
But chemical signatures from faraway atmospheres, interesting readings from moon flybys and even microfossils from Mars are all open to interpretation, Dr Cabrol argues.
All the elements are in place for a discovery that will be more than just an incredible scientific breakthrough, according to Dr Subhajit Sarker of Cardiff University, who is a member of the team studying K2-18b.
The original article contains 1,297 words, the summary contains 194 words. Saved 85%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!