A New Milestone in the Search for Life Beyond Earth
In a major leap forward in the search for extra-terrestrial life, Indian-origin astrophysicist Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan and his team at the University of Cambridge have made a discovery that could redefine humanity’s place in the universe. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the researchers identified potential signs of life on a distant exoplanet known as K2-18b, located approximately 120 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Leo.
The planet, a “sub-Neptune” in size and composition, showed chemical markers in its atmosphere—most notably carbon-based molecules like methane and carbon dioxide—that on Earth are primarily associated with biological activity. Even more intriguingly, the researchers may have detected dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a molecule that, on Earth, is produced exclusively by microbial life.
Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan: The Man Behind the Breakthrough
Dr. Madhusudhan’s scientific journey began in India. Born in 1980, he pursued his undergraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BHU in Varanasi. He later earned a master’s degree and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s foremost institutions in science and technology. His academic journey took him through prestigious institutions such as Yale and Princeton before he settled at the University of Cambridge, where he currently serves as a professor of astrophysics and exoplanetary science.
His research specializes in exoplanets—planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. Madhusudhan focuses particularly on their atmospheres, internal compositions, and potential habitability. A pioneer in the field, he coined the term “Hycean planets” in 2021—a portmanteau of hydrogen and ocean—to describe a class of exoplanets that might have hydrogen-rich atmospheres and subsurface oceans, creating environments that could potentially support life.
K2-18b: A Hycean World with a Mysterious Signature
K2-18b, the focus of the latest findings, fits the “Hycean” profile. It is about 2.6 times the size of Earth and orbits a red dwarf star in the habitable zone—where temperatures could support liquid water. Madhusudhan’s team used data from the JWST to analyze the planet’s atmosphere. What they found has excited scientists worldwide: possible traces of dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide, compounds that, on Earth, are released by marine phytoplankton and certain types of bacteria.
“This is the strongest evidence yet that there is possibly life out there,” said Madhusudhan in an interview with the BBC. “I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years.”
However, the team is cautious. While the findings suggest possible biological processes, they do not confirm the existence of life. These chemical signals could also be produced by unknown non-biological mechanisms. The discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, has sparked widespread excitement but also scientific scrutiny, with experts agreeing that more observations are needed.
Why This Matters: A Transformational Moment in Astronomy
If these findings are confirmed, it could mark a turning point in the field of astrobiology. Scientists have discovered nearly 6,000 exoplanets since the 1990s, and many of these worlds could fall into the “Hycean” category. The potential detection of biosignatures on K2-18b would not only increase the chances of life elsewhere in the galaxy—it would reshape our understanding of what planetary environments can support life.
What’s Next: Verifying the Signs of Life
The Cambridge team plans to continue observations of K2-18b over the next year using JWST. Their goal is to verify the presence of DMS and refine atmospheric models of the planet. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency’s Ariel mission, set to launch in 2029, is expected to provide deeper insights into exoplanet atmospheres and could further validate or challenge these findings.
A Promising Clue from the Cosmos
While the evidence of life on K2-18b remains preliminary, the work of Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan and his team opens new frontiers in the search for life beyond Earth. It reflects decades of scientific advancement, the power of international collaboration, and the contributions of a dedicated Indian-origin scientist whose curiosity and expertise might just help answer one of humanity’s oldest questions: Are we alone in the universe?
(With inputs from agencies)
