*Note to publisher- the assignment title is option 3, but the student chose to answer option 1

Scientists Find Evidence of Life on a Distant Planet

Scientists have found evidence of extraterrestrial life on a distant exoplanet, K2-18b. The gases and chemicals detected on this exoplanet are unique to living organisms of Earth, and hence make scientists think that there is life on the planet as well.

Exoplanets are planets that are outside the solar system and orbit a star other than our sun. NASA’s James Webb Telescope, the most powerful telescope built, detected chemicals on this exoplanet that are only known to be produced by living organisms. Even though astronomers require more information to see if there is life on the planet, if they succeed, it could mean alien life exists on other planets as well.

Nikku Madhusudhan, the lead researcher behind this project, said that the more evidence astronomers find of life on other planets, the closer humans are to studying extraterrestrial life. “If we confirm that there is life on K2-18b, it should basically confirm that life is very common in the galaxy,” he said.

The next step for the team is to check whether any non-living processes can produce the chemicals they detected. This will determine whether their findings confirm that life exists on K2-18b.

References: Scientists find ‘strongest evidence yet’ of life on distant planet (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c0l0krknrx8o)

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