Astronomers detect most promisingsigns yet of life on other planets with shocking new discovery

Life.But how would we know it?The world of astronomy is abuzz with excitement.

Have we discovered the first-ever evidence of off-world life?Is the signal extracted from the interstellar noise a telltale of active biology?“Astronomers have detected the most promising signs yet of a possible biosignature outside the solar system, although they remain cautious,” states a Cambridge University press release.What has them excited is the planet K2-18b.We only know it exists by the shadow it casts when it passes between its star and the Earth.But that shadow, like a stained-glass window, can tell a story.Across the gulf of space, the James Webb Space Telescope has managed to capture its light spectrum and atmospheric gases like methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and dimethyl sulphide also cast shadows when light strikes them.The challenge for astronomy is to catch enough of this distant light to dissect reliably and to interpret that data accurately.The Cambridge University astronomers have attempted to do just that.

Scientists the world over have since been sciencing their results.How was the data collected? What data was collected? How was it analysed? Does it support the conclusion?“While this discovery is intriguing, most astronomers – including the paper’s authors – aren’t ready to claim that it means extraterrestrial life exists,” says University of Arizona distinguished professor of astronomy Chris Impey.There simply isn’t enough data.Yet.“Searching for life beyond Earth is one of the great, profound pursuits of humankind.

But any claim of life out there will require a thorough study by the scientific community as a whole before we have confidence in the results,” adds The Planetary Society’s chief scientist, Dr Bruce Betts.In a post-truth world, that confidence is more important than ever.“Just like the boy that cried wolf, no one wants a series of false claims to further diminish society’s trust in scientists,” Johns Hopkins Un...