INTERESTING ENGINEERING - Earlier this year, reports emerged that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) had likely found signs of life on a distant alien planet.
Celebrations were premature, according to a new study on the findings. Not all hope is lost, though, as the new paper also outlines how the telescope might still verify the presence of gas produced by life – if it really is out there.
James Webb is the most powerful space observatory in history, meaning it is well positioned to lead the charge. In fact, in September last year, exciting reports emerged that Webb had observed a biosignature gas in the atmosphere of planet K2-18b.
Now, a new UC Riverside study might dampen the mood for alien enthusiasts, though it does highlight the ongoing potential for finding signs of alien life in the near future.
The paper, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, sheds new light on those K2-18b findings.