Webb Telescope Finds Signs of Life in Atmosphere of Distant Ocean World – IGN

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected an organic molocule in the atmosphere of a far flung exoplanet that could indicate the presence of life thriving in a vast global ocean, though further observations will be needed to confirm it.

The exoplanet K2-18 b is thought to orbit in the habitable zone of an alien star some 120 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. Earlier observations of the distant world, which is roughly 2.6 times bigger than Earth, had led some scientists to believe that it could belong to a newly discovered type of potentially habitable planets known collectively as Hycean worlds .

These planets are essentially mini-Neptunes, and boast hydrogen rich atmospheres and world-spanning oceans that have the potential to sustain microbial life. Now, a new study of K2-18 b using data harvested by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed more about the true nature of the alien planet.

via www.ign.com

Must be some strange octopi lingering around in those alien oceans.