Published scientific research papers or announcements from astronomers involved with the James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Telescope Targets K2-18b, a Planet Twice Earth's Size, in Alien Life Search

Apr 27, 2024, 02:48 PM

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is set to focus its observations on the distant planet K2-18b, a planet twice as big as Earth, this Friday. The telescope detected gases on K2-18b that are typically associated only with biological activity, sparking significant excitement among astronomers. Lisa Kaltenegger, an expert in the field, highlighted the high anticipation surrounding these findings, suggesting that the absence of any signs of life would be a major surprise. The discovery has led some researchers, including those from SETI, to suggest that this could lead to the detection of alien life.