So, about that potentially habitable planet K2-18b… we need to talk. Earlier observations with the Hubble Space Telescope suggested it might be a Hycean world (Hydrogen + Ocean)—an enormous water planet with a steamy hydrogen atmosphere. Then, JWST followed up and spotted a possible chemical: Dimethyl Sulfide. On Earth, this compound is mostly produced by marine life—algae and phytoplankton. That led to some very exciting headlines. A water world with chemical hints of ocean life? The imagination runs wild. But as more astronomers and astrobiologists examined the data, they found major uncertainty around the DMS detection. And we also know DMS can form abiotically (without biology). To top it off, K2-18b is now likely not a Hycean world at all, but a gas giant more like Neptune. And that might sound like a bummer… but it’s actually great. This is science in action—refining ideas, questioning conclusions, and sticking to what the evidence really says, even if it’s not as sensational as we’d hoped. Even if there’s no life on K2-18b, we studied a planet 140 light years away. That’s astonishing. And every time we learn where life isn’t, we inch closer to learning where it is. JWST is already giving us the most detailed views of the universe we’ve ever had. And the next generation of telescopes? They may be able to detect artificial lights—yes, city lights—on distant worlds. We’re not just looking for biological signs of life anymore… We’re looking for technology. If someone has the lights on at home out there in the cosmos, we just might see them—in the next decade. #space #spacescience #k218b #astronomy #spacecentre #spacenews (fb)

As part of our partnership with Enbridge, we had the opportunity to support community building in Merritt by bringing the Portable Planetarium experience to town. 💫 Thanks to everyone who joined us! We’re thrilled to have Enbridge as our Signature Sponsor for the Portable Planetarium. To learn more visit enbridge.com/bc (fb)