Illustration showing what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on scientific data.
This means that it has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a single ocean covering its entire surface.
This is important because many astronomers feel that this punch in of exoplanet could be hospitable to life.
Illustration showing what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on scientific data. (Photo:Illustration NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI) Science Nikku Madhusudhan (IoA))
Webb also found possible traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS).
On Earth, this molecule is produced by life.
Most of the DMS in the Earth’s atmosphere is released by phytoplankton.
The telescope will need to run further validations to see if its initial observations were correct.
