In 2023, scientists from Cambridge University reported what appears to be exciting news. The SBBs telescope on the WHOB spob, they said, found signs of a liquid sea water – and maybe the life of the K2-18B, a strong sub-Neptite world located about 124 years away from the earth. After this, this year, the same team announced what they call the most powerful evidence for potential indications of foreign life.
Signs rooted in a tentative detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) – a molecule made of WORLD Only through the sea life – and / or the close chemical relative of DMDs, which is also a potential bididsignature, in the air in the exoplanet. This search, with the possibility that K2-18B is a “Hecean world” with a liquid water in the water, provokes significant interest about the potential to support life.
However, these results arouse the intense debate of astronomers. While finding this search a groundbreaking achievement and a major testament to James Webb Space TelescopeJWST capabilities) If true, many scientists do not doubt, asking the reliability of the DMS signature of a DELMS a reliable sign of life in the first place. Thus, many Independent Teams conducted follow-up studies about the original claim – and a newly published one has been added to the debate, which is suggested Detection of DMS in Cambridge not enough publicity to receive.
“Among the physical screams, astronomy enjoys a privileged position,” Rafael Luque, a post Doctoral Rocications at the University of Chicago. “The media often covers visual views and large philosophical and universal questions that it
The meaning of meaning
Luque and his colleagues, including postdoctoral researchers Caroline Piaulet-Ghaybereb and Michael Zhang, remained unable to keep K2-18B indeed a reliable life that indicates life that indicates life. In a recent arxiv DRY – that peers have not reviewed – their team re-evaluated the validity of the original evidence. “This is how works of science: evidence and countereridence are nearing,” he said.
If scientists study data from different instruments separately, they can end up with conflicting results – such as finding two different “stories” about a subject that is not equal. “It, actually, what happened to the original team papers,” Zhang told Space.com. “They erase higher temperatures from their Miri (middle infrared) data than their Niriss and Nirspec (nearly data with opposite stories about the same planet.”
Thus, the team conducts a joint analysis of K2-18B using all jwrant imperds), approaching infrared spectrograph (Niriss HENGTHS Lengths. The goal is to ensure a steady, interttrum planet in the interttrum of K2-18B that team feels the original study.
“We reanalyzed the same jwst data used in the study published earlier this year, but in combination with other jwst observations of the same planet published (…) two years ago,” Piaulet-ghorayeb told, “Piaulet-ghorayeb told space.com. “We know that a stronger sign claimed by 2025 observations are more vulnerable when all data is combined.”
These signals may be weaker if all data is combined because the first “force” detection may be filled, due to a limited set of data. Combining data from multiple sources allows scientists crossing cross-check and verify strength – and validity – in a particular signal.
“Different methods of reduced data and extraction codes often provide small variety of results, so it’s important to try out how to fix the consequences,” PIAULET-GHOULETEB. “We do not see more of the unimportant signs of DMS or DMDs, and even these signs are not in all data decreases.”
“It’s important, we show that if you try a wider molecules we expect to do in the air, the same observed specter features or DMDs,” he continued.
More than one passage of a result
The molecules in the air of an exoplanet are usually found by the spectral analysis, indicating the unique “chemical fingerprapers that have paid the haven lengths while it has passed the host spectrum expressing different molecules.
“The signature of the molecule is remarkable, but various molecules have some parts that fall into similar places because of their close molecular structures,” referred to Piaulet-Ghouleteb.
The difference between DMS and Ethane – a common molecule of exoplanet atmospheres – only one sensemeter, including those in JWST. The distance of the exoplanets, weakening of the signals, and the complex of the atmospheric means to recognize between the molecules that are different from just one atom.
“The most of a large problem for meeting the biomarkker, even if not an unreliable, because different molecules have many forms of absorption,” says Piaulet-Ghouleteb. “Until we can separate these signals that are more clear, we are more careful not to mistake them as signs of life.”
More than technical limits, another source of doubt how the statistical data is interpreted. Leque pointed out that 2023 studies describing DMS detection as “tentative,” reflecting the initial character of search. However, the most recent 2025 papers report that DMD seeing and / onds reach 3-Sigma importance – a level required for a confirmed 5-Sigma-deemed evidence of statistically.
“Surprised, This most recent job is used to duplicate claims for DMS and even the most complex molecules are present. Detection, however, is not statistically significant or strong, as we show our work.
Despite uncertainties, the team is concerned that media coverage continues to show bold claims about DMS and other molecules. “Telescope on (JWST) loud, but the signals we have seen are very small. As a community made the options of telescope choices,” says Piaulet-Ghouleteb.
“Researchers have a responsibility for doubling and verifying, but the media is responsible for reporting these follow-up works of general public,” Luque added. “Even if they have less titles with many titles.”
“As Carl Sagan said before, ‘wonderful claims need extraordinary evidence,'” Luque said. “That threshold does not meet how the results are exposed to most public.”
when We are a clear answer about life of K2-18 B is not sure – not only because of technology limits, but because the case for follow-ups may not be at all. “JWST continues to see K2-18B, and even if new observations do not have the ability to find life, we will soon find out about the planet and interior,” Zhang said.
