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科学家称发现迄今太阳系外可能存在生命的“最有力证据”
Xin Hua She· 2025-04-17 14:18
Core Insights - An international astronomy research team announced the discovery of what may be the strongest evidence of potential life activity outside the solar system on the exoplanet K2-18b, located approximately 124 light-years from Earth, although further observations are needed to rule out non-biological explanations [1][2] Group 1: Discovery Details - The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, utilized instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the atmosphere of K2-18b, revealing the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), which are chemical signatures typically produced by biological activity on Earth [1] - K2-18b has a mass approximately 8.6 times that of Earth and a volume about 2.6 times larger, and the detection of these sulfur compounds is considered the most compelling evidence for the possibility of life beyond our solar system [1] - Previous observations of K2-18b also identified methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, marking the first detection of carbon-based molecules in the atmosphere of an exoplanet located in the habitable zone [1] Group 2: Methodology and Future Research - Initial inferences regarding DMS were made using the near-infrared imager and spectrograph of the Webb Space Telescope, while new independent observations employed the mid-infrared instrument, providing a distinct line of evidence with no overlap with previous results [2] - Researchers emphasized the need for additional data before confirming the existence of life on another planet, as unknown chemical processes on K2-18b could account for the observed results, necessitating further investigation [2]