India, April 20 -- Scientists have detected molecules associated with biological processes in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, which is about 124 light-years from Earth. With the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers identified the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), which are compounds found on Earth, primarily produced by marine phytoplankton and certain bacteria.

Previous observations in September 2023 have revealed that the exoplanet K2-18b possesses a hydrogen-rich atmosphere containing water vapour. The detection of carbon-bearing molecules like methane and carbon dioxide supports the possibility of a habitable environment like our Earth. K2-18b is 8.6 times the mass of Earth and is far awa...