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Scientist says aliens are probably real as they find 'strongest ever signs' of ET

Professor Nikku Madhusudhan made the discovery and now claims that it is 'the strongest evidence yet there is possibly life out there' somewhere in our universe

[The planet could be 'teeming' with alien life]

The planet could be 'teeming' with alien life(Image: ESA/Hubble/AFP via Getty Images)

An ocean planet could be teeming with alien life, a top scientist has claimed. Signs of life have been found on planet K2-18b, which is roughly 120 light years away from earth. The discovery was made by Proffesor Nikku Madhusudhan, from Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy when using Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Speaking to the BBC, he said: This is the strongest evidence yet there is possibly life out there. I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years.

The discovery is down to the planet's atmosphere which is said to contain at least one of two molecules which are needed for life dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide, which are produce on earth by marine phytoplankton and bacteria.

[It is the 'strongest evidence' of alien life yet]

It is the 'strongest evidence' of alien life yet(Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

The expert confirmed that the gas was seen during a single observation window, and has now claimed that it was thousands of times higher than what we have on Earth.

He said: So, if the association with life is real, then this planet will be teeming with life. If we confirm that there is life on k2-18b it should basically confirm that life is very common in the galaxy

Decades from now, we may look back at this point in time and recognise it was when the living universe came within reach. This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether we're alone in the universe is one we're capable of answering.

[Professor Nikku Madhusudhan made the discovery]

Professor Nikku Madhusudhan made the discovery

His data was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, and goes further in explaining exactly what was found and claimed that what was observed by him was in line with what had already been predicted.

He also further pushed his claim that the planet could be teeming with alien life.

He wrote: Earlier theoretical work had predicted that high levels of sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDS are possible on Hycean worlds. And now we've observed it, in line with what was predicted.

Given everything we know about this planet, a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have. The signal came through strong and clear.

And backing up his claim was report co-author Mns Holmberg, a researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, who added: It was an incredible realisation seeing the results emerge and remain consistent throughout the extensive independent analyses and robustness tests.

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