Carl Zimmer
120 light years from Earth, there's a planet that may be covered in a living ocean. Here's my story on a tantalizing hint of life beyond the Solar System. Gift link: https://nyti.ms/3GbrEaZ
Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

Further studies are needed to determine whether K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away, is inhabited, or even habitable.

The New York Times
Apr 16, 2025 at 11:07pmWeb
Show threadMichael J. CoffeyApr 16, 2025
@Carl_Zimmer Just from the quote, I think I like Nikole Lewis.
Show threadDaniel FischerApr 16, 2025
@Carl_Zimmer The "the new study" link is going nowhere!
Show threadCarl ZimmerApr 17, 2025
@cosmos4u It should be live in a few hours
Show threadLyle Solla-YatesApr 17, 2025
@Carl_Zimmer “it’s not nothing.” 🤩
Show threadJim SmootApr 17, 2025
@Carl_Zimmer can’t they detect water vapor in the atmosphere? Seems a “magma ocean and a thick, scorching hydrogen atmosphere” should be distinguishable from an atmosphere with water vapor; and if DMS is detectable, water vapor should be too. Thanks for sharing the article!
Show threadSocrateaseApr 17, 2025

@Carl_Zimmer

Fascinating.