MELBOURNE, 22 April 2025: As a child, I looked at the Moon with curiosity. My nanny (Jai Singh) said, ” No one can ever reach the ‘Chanda-Mama’ (Moon). I had no idea of ‘space’, until the Soviet Union’s Sputnik started circling the Earth from 4 October, 1957. A four years old me looked at Soviet publicity brochures baffled. The space age creeped into my consciousness amid the childhood chaos. Then the Soviet Union’s Yuri Gagarin, the first man to go into space mede big news. Years later, one day a TV set was set in our school hall, where we saw the first human set foot on the Moon, called a great leap for mankind by Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on Moon’s surface. Much more happened in the space race.
Years passed and then, I saw, Star Trek episodes on Doordarshan, with the famous catchphrase – “To boldly go where no one has gone before”. Well, actually, if we see today, it did not happen except in Star Trek. I mean humans going to another planet in our Solar system. Thinking beyond, I am sure, was more of science fiction, igniting the thought of being alone in the vast cosmos. Read life, in any form or shape beyond Earth. But the human endeavour to look for things including life beyond never died, not even in my mind.
The strongest evidence (as claimed) yet for life beyond Earth was announced on April 16, 2025. A team of scientists led by Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan (University of Cambridge) detected the presence of molecules (DMS or DMDS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, 124 light-years from Earth, that are typically produced by life on Earth. This discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope, raises the possibility of life on another planet. This is being called a ‘major leap’. Hints of biological activity outside the solar system.
Having seen numerous programs on YouTube including the actual announcement by Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, this hint of life so far away, needs understanding as to what actually has been found and what are the available facts. Has life been found at K2-18b (a planet like a mini-Neptune)?
I seriously heard and tried to understand the one hour, 21 minutes and 6 seconds announcement on 16 April 2025, by Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan (Cambridge University Astronomy, You Tube).
This is what I understand : The strongest ever evidence of life with the help of the James Webb Telescope on a far planet K2-18b (124 light-years away from Earth) found and more research is needed, one light-year is about 6 trillion miles (9 trillion km). the K2-18b is 2 and half times Earth radius (size) and 8.6 times its mass, DMS or DMDS (gases emanate from marine life on Earth or produced by life on Earth) molecules found above K2-18b, evidence/hint (or signature) of this is very early stage, open for alternative hypothesis…
So, finally, has life been found 700 trillion miles away from Earth? In an interview, Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan says, no, but at another place he says the chance is 50:50. This is promising.
Anyway, others in the team of British-Indian origin Prof Nikku Madhusudhan (Lead Researcher) – Professor of Astrophysics and Exoplanetary Science at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Deep Seek says, are Dr. Subhajit Sarkar – Postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge, involved in data analysis from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Dr. Anjali Piette – Postdoctoral researcher focusing on exoplanet atmospheres and habitability, Dr. Savvas Constantinou – Contributed to atmospheric modeling and spectral analysis, Dr. Luis Welbanks – Research associate specializing in exoplanet atmospheric characterization, Matthew Nixon – PhD student working on exoplanet data and modeling and Dr. Oliver Shorttle – Collaborator from Cambridge’s Department of Earth Sciences and Institute of Astronomy, contributing to planetary geochemistry perspectives.
Earlier report in South Asia Times (SAT).
*Mr Neeraj Nanda is a senior journalist based in Melbourne, Australia & Editor of South Asia Times (SAT).
SUMMARY:
On April 22, 2025, the author reflects on their childhood curiosity about the Moon, sparked by a nanny’s comment that no one could reach it. The launch of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik on October 4, 1957, introduced them to the concept of space. Over the years, significant milestones such as Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight and Neil Armstrong’s landing on the Moon influenced their fascination with space exploration.
The author recalls watching Star Trek on television, emphasizing humanity’s dream of exploring beyond Earth. They note the ongoing human endeavor to find life outside our planet, which has never waned.
A significant announcement was made on April 16, 2025, where a team of scientists led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge reported potential evidence of life on exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light-years from Earth. Molecules typically produced by life on Earth (DMS or DMDS) were detected in its atmosphere using the James Webb Space Telescope. This discovery has raised the possibility of extraterrestrial life and is being described as a significant leap in the understanding of biological activity beyond the solar system.
The author emphasizes the need to understand the implications of this discovery, noting that while the possibility of life is mentioned, concrete evidence is still preliminary. The announcement included insights from various researchers on the team, highlighting the ongoing research and exploration into this intriguing area of study.
-Summarized with help from OpenAI
