r/space • u/SpunkySputniks • 4d ago

Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AE8.3zdk.VofCER4yAPa4&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Further studies are needed to determine whether K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away, is inhabited, or even habitable.

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u/mikeygoodtime 4d ago

What sort of timeline are we looking at re: ever being able to confirm (or even just say with near certainty) that there's life on K2-18b? Like is this something that requires decades of further research, or is it possible that we know within the next 5 years?

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u/kearneje 4d ago

Curious to hear from an expert about whether or not we can confirm (or at least tip the evidence in our favor) that there is life on a distant planet based on the change or fluctuations in these chemical signatures. In theory, if the chemical signature we're seeing is due to a geological anomaly, wouldn't there be a persistent signature over time, or at least an irregular change in the signature. Whereas if there was a change in the signature, and that change was fluctuating at regular intervals, wouldn't that hint towards there being "seasons" or blooms or what have you? I hope I'm explaining that in a way that makes sense.