Distant Planet may have Water Ocean and Possibly a life: NASA

Washington, Sep 14:-- NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in its study of K2-18 b, an exoplanet, discovered the presence of carbon dioxide and methane.This suggests that K2-18b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface. Planets that orbit stars,other than our sun, are called exoplanets. Planet K2-18 b is 120 light years from earth and orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 a.

It is 8.6 times as massive as Earth and the size lies that of between earth and Neptune.The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia in this planet support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

The observations of James Webb also provided a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). On Earth, DMS is only produced by life. The bulk of the DMS in Earth’s atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments. Planet k2-18b is within the “habitable zone” of its star, that is conditions are just right – neither too hot nor too cold – for life to exists.

NASA now intends to conduct follow-up research with the telescope's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) spectrograph that they hope will further validate their findings and provide new insights into the environmental conditions on K2-18 b.

Related Science & Tech News

Paleoseismic investigations can trace earthquake history & prepare for future

NEW DELHI:Seismogenic liquefaction features like multiple sand dykes and sand sills have been identified by scientists in an active fault in northeastern region (NER), called Kopili fault (KF) zone which is known to have experienced large earthquakes in 1869 and 1943. The study indicates that ....

India working on small Nuclear Reactors to make clean energy transition: Dr Jitendra Singh

NEW DELHI:The Government today informed that it is working on new technologies such as Small Nuclear Reactors to make clean energy transition. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personne....

NASA's Mars helicopter completes 67 flights on Mars

LOS ANGELES:NASA's Mars helicopter completed its 67th flight on the Red Planet over the weekend, the agency said on Monday. The helicopter reached an altitude of 12 meters and traveled 393 meters for more than two minutes on Saturday, according to NASA.

Chandra Catches Spider Pulsars Destroying Nearby Stars

Washington, Dec 1:-- A group of dead stars known as “spider pulsars” are obliterating companion stars within their reach. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory of the globular cluster Omega Centauri is helping astronomers understand how these spider pulsars prey on their stell....

SpaceX's 23 more Starlink internet satellites launched from Falcon 9

LOS ANGELES: U.S. private space company SpaceX launched 23 more Starlink satellites into orbit on Wednesday. The satellites were launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida at 2:47 a.m. Wednesday Eastern Time, according to SpaceX. ....