With the help of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) have been detected in the atmosphere of an exoplanet—compounds that on Earth are produced solely through biological processes. This suggests that the planet very likely harbors at least microbial life.
In 2022, the James Webb Telescope also detected methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the planet K2-18 b, which in itself could indicate the possibility of life. The two newly discovered chemicals reinforce this possibility, although their presence alone is still not enough to confirm the discovery of life with certainty.
It is clear that research on planet K2-18 b will receive funding following these observations. Therefore, it is likely that within a reasonably short time—just a few years—we may finally find out whether life on Earth is truly unique in the universe.
If that turns out not to be the case, it would have enormous implications for human life on Earth as well. This is because all religions that include a creation story would be forced to re-evaluate their doctrines — and perhaps even admit that we humans may not be quite as unique among the beings of the universe as we’ve been accustomed to believing.
Previous thoughts on the same topic:
