Meet The British-Indian Astrophysicist At The Forefront Of The Search For Alien Life

Are we alone in the universe? Since the beginning of history, humans have looked to the sky and wondered about the existence of extraterrestrial life. Until now, the answer has been a silent, deafening 'yes'. But if the conclusions of a recent study by the University of Cambridge is proven correct, soon the answer may be: maybe not.

In a groundbreaking development in the search for life in space, a team of Cambridge scientists have detected potential signs of life in the atmosphere of K2-18b, an exoplanet located approximately 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. The discovery, led by Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan — a British-Indian Professor of Astrophysics and Exoplanetary Science at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge — was made using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, and has captured global scientific attention.

K2-18b is classified as a "Hycean" planet — a term coined by Dr. Madhusudhan to describe a theorised class of exoplanets that feature a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a subsurface ocean. These planets are larger than Earth but smaller than gas giants like Neptune and could potentially support life in conditions very different from those on our home planet.

This discovery underscores the importance of studying planets outside our solar system with varied characteristics. It also highlights the potential of Hycean worlds to harbour life, offering new directions for astrobiology. The James Webb Space Telescope, with its powerful observational capabilities, has played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of such distant worlds.

The most exciting aspect of this discovery is the detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet’s atmosphere. On Earth, DMS is exclusively produced by living organisms, primarily by marine microorganisms such as phytoplankton. The presence of this compound on K2-18b has sparked speculation that microbial life, possibly algae-like organisms, could be thriving in its oceans.

Alongside DMS, scientists also detected dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), methane, and carbon dioxide — molecules that further support the possibility of a biologically active environment. The detection of these gases suggests a complex atmospheric chemistry that could potentially mirror some of the life-supporting processes found on Earth.

Despite the excitement, however, scientists are urging caution. Further observations will be needed to confirm whether the detection is indeed accurate and whether the DMS originates from biological or currently unknown non-biological sources. While DMS is a known biosignature on Earth, researchers acknowledge the possibility that different, yet-to-be-discovered non-biological processes might produce similar compounds elsewhere in the universe. As of now, no such non-biological processes are known to produce DMS on Earth, which lends weight to the biological hypothesis, without ruling out alternatives.

Born in India in 1980, Dr Madhusudan graduated from IIT-BHU, Varanasi, in 2002 and earned his MS and PhD from MIT, USA, in 2004 and 2009 respectively. Previously, he has been awarded the 2019 MERAC Prize in Theoretical Astrophysics by the European Astronomical Society; the 2019 Pilkington Prize for Excellence in Teaching by the University of Cambridge; the 2016 Young Scientist Medal in Astrophysics by the International Union for Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP); the 2014 Vainu Bappu Gold Medal in Astrophysics by the Astronomical Society of India; and 2011 YCAA Prize Fellowship by the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Yale University, USA.

Currently, Dr Madhusudhan and his team are further analysing the data and planning follow-up observations. These future studies will be critical in confirming the presence of DMS and determining its origin, possibly bringing us closer to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions.

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