This has long made the exoplanet a top candidate in humanitys search for alien life.
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To arrive at their conclusions, the scientists employed a technique known as transit spectroscopy.
The newfindings support existingtheoriesthatK2-18b is ahycean planet home tovast oceans and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
Madhusudhan and his teamadmit that an unknown chemical process may be the source of these gases.
During these first observations, the researchers also noticed faint signals that potentially indicated DMS.
The signal came through strong and clear.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
