Short Wave Did Scientists Find Alien Life Or Just Controversy?
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May 5, 2025 
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR science correspondent, dives into the intense debate surrounding potential signs of life on the exoplanet K2-18b. She discusses sulfur-based gases detected by the James Webb Space Telescope and their link to microbial life. However, skepticism runs high as many astronomers question the reliability of the evidence. The conversation touches on the implications of these findings for future alien searches and the importance of strong verification in scientific claims. It's a thrilling exploration of hope and caution in the hunt for extraterrestrial life.
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Sulfur Gases Hint At Life
- Researchers detected sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDS on planet K2-18b, which on Earth are associated with microbial life.
- These gases are potential biosignatures but could have non-biological origins, requiring further confirmation.
Skepticism in Scientific Community
- The scientific community remains skeptical about the detection of these gases due to weak data signals.
- Independent analyses suggest the signal might vanish upon further inspection, indicating early learning phase for James Webb data.
Data Noise Clouds Findings
- Reanalyses of the data reveal that noise may mask signals and alternative models without biosignatures fit the observations.
- Scientific debate continues about the validity of claimed biosignature detections on exoplanets like K2-18b.