Discovery of planet twice as big as Earth emitting gas 'only produced by life' sparks huge excitement among astronomers

Astronomers could finally show that alien life does exist on a distant planet following observations today.

Planet K2-18b – which is more than twice as big as Earth and 120 light-years away – sits within the habitable zone of its star in the Leo constellation.

Scientists said last year they thought they'd detected dimethyl sulphide gas in its atmosphere – a compound that is 'only produced by life'.

Now, to confirm the finding, the James Webb Space Telescope will undertake hours of observations of the planet on Friday.

Poster Comment:

We could not live there as the gravity would kill us.