The James Webb Telescope, sent into space to explore the secrets of the universe, has made another surprising discovery.
The American space agency NASA has announced the presence of a possible ocean in a large planet, while the chemical elements there indicate the presence of possible life.
The James Webb Telescope discovered the planet in the Asad star cluster, located 120 light-years away.
It has been named K2-18 b, which is about 9 times as massive as Earth.
According to the statement issued by NASA, this planet probably has hydrogen in its atmosphere while its surface is covered by ocean.
The American space agency said that the examination of chemical elements in the planet’s atmosphere gives an indication of the presence of an ocean there.
The statement added that the presence of methane and carbon dioxide supports the idea that the planet’s hydrogen-rich atmosphere could have an ocean.
But NASA said the most important discovery was the possible presence of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS).
This molecule is formed by life on Earth.
According to the statement, DMS is released into the Earth’s atmosphere from the marine environment.
However, the US space agency said that the presence of DMS is yet to be confirmed and further research work will be done in this regard.
This is not the first time that NASA has discovered signs of water in other planets.
But this new discovery has scientists excited.
“The search for extraterrestrial life usually focuses on small rocky planets, but larger planets like K2-18 b also need to be explored,” he said.
The planet orbits a star, K2-18, and is far enough from it that scientists believe is necessary for liquid water to exist.
The planet was first discovered by NASA’s K2 mission in 2015, but the James Webb Telescope’s technology has improved, helping to analyze it in detail and reveal the presence of an ocean.