The Cambridge scientist who thinks he’s just discovered alien life

Is there life on...K2-18b?
Professor Nikku Madhusudhan believes he has discovered alien life on an exoplanet 120 light years away from Earth.
Speaking to Tom Swarbrick, he puts the chances of there being life on the faraway planet at '50/50'.
At the time of upload, the James Webb Space Telescope was observing the planet, and the analysis will take a few months. It follows the discovery of carbon dioxide on the planet in scans last year.
Listen to the full show on Global Player: app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/...
#tomswarbrick #space #LBC
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[@SurajGupta_3D]

We have Potentially discovered life on another Planet before GTA 6 💀

[@jaybristowe2346]

We will meet aliens before the release of elder scrolls 6

[@FrancescoCastiglioneChannel]

We will be in Mars before GTA 7

[@jaybristowe2346]

@@FrancescoCastiglioneChannel I mean that’s not even a joke that’s a sensible statement of fact

[@NavySeal2k]

We land on Mars before Half Life 3...

[@jghifiversveiws8729]

@@FrancescoCastiglioneChannel We've been on Mars for decades.

[@jacobkuntflapp]

For those wondering, it's 124 light years away from Earth, which is approximately 2 and a half football fields.

[@paradiseb5950]

Yes yes that’s about right in american measuring system.

[@michaelwachendorf2096]

​@paradiseb5950 Yeah, cause you know those Americans only have more space agencies than any country in the world. Not sure have you heard of NASA and space X??

[@Sambrowski10]

Roughly thirty cubic litres high

[@danielcorea8985]

@@paradiseb5950RAHHH🦅🦅🦅

[@LungsMcGee]

Yes, but how heavy is 124 light years in elephants?

[@Aaackermann]

The real question: Is there oil? Eagle screech

[@Originalcopy20]

Let's bring democracy to that planet *Plays 'Ride of the Valkyries'*

[@richurichu8781]

B2 bombers took off as we speak!!!

[@ravenblack5733]

🤪 please let there be NO OIL..

[@von1477]

red-tailed hawk screech *

[@twstdreality]

If there’s unconquered land, watch out! The British might resort to old tactics

[@nickkowak9628]

Say you found oil on that planet, US will be there in two weeks

[@eesanana7414]

Gotta implement democracy to an alien government raaaah

[@elProvos]

​@@eesanana7414LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@cycling9945]

😂😂😂😂

[@monster17368]

Then the aliens would invite americans for Thanksgiving 💀

[@som3839]

Right and then try to colonize them and steal all their resources

[@stitchwod]

For some reason I'm imagining that planet having the same exact interview about us

[@reneokoli]

Haha

[@badmanjosh6091]

Multi verse. Universe so big its infinite you and me in different dimensions

[@Valkyrae123]

I doubt it, this is a water planet

[@ako8791]

I’m imagining the Spider-Man pointing at each other meme just on a universal level. 😂

[@ericaulbach]

😂

[@roadwarrior1459]

After recently discovering planet Earth, the scientists of K2-18 have concluded that no intelligent life exists here.

[@kelvindeen]

I laughed harder at this than I should have

[@BluerPanda1411]

Well there is, so they’re wrong.

[@mitcho5452]

@@BluerPanda1411 depends on your definition of intelligence

[@xMrjamjam]

@BluerPanda1411 considering you didnt get the joke proves the dude correct

[@BluerPanda1411]

@@mitcho5452 doesn’t matter “your definition of intelligence” we are smarter than every other creature on the planet

[@nicomcmahon2491]

‼️Astrophysics student here, just wanted to mention that the detection for DMS in his data was about 2.4 sigma. Usually in astronomy we require 3 sigma to even consider it a reliable detection, and 5 sigma to be certain that it is not a result of some fluctuation of confounding variables. In physics, results less than 5 sigma are routinely discarded to be extra scrupulous. I think his assertion that the odds are 50/50 is bonkers and totally inflated. As far as I'm concerned, the odds are 0 until his results are replicated and confirmed by other researchers.

[@blasemathews806]

Is that why physicists at CERN were looking for 5 Sigma when looking for the Higgs?

[@xEkulz]

ermm.. what the sigma

[@pr0cy0n1]

Everything that's claimed here in this video, was claimed back in September. There's no new data added to confirm what was reported 8 months ago. I'm about to research this professor to even see how he's related to this study in the first place

[@nicomcmahon2491]

​@@blasemathews806 Exactly!! You got it :)

[@imjonathan6745]

sticking out your gyat for the sigma..

[@MagashiSaizen]

Lets give the interviewer their proper graces, the guy did an amazing job in that interview, respectful, well though out questions and all. Congratulations to Mr. Nikku Madhusudhan and their potentially monumental discovery.

[@JoshSci]

Dr.

[@luffyluck]

Prof.

[@otama213]

“You could be the most famous person in the world soon” “I just want to find the truth and leave it at that.” A true scientist and gentleman

[@brandonvasser5902]

Methane is also produced in volcanic events or from meteor impacts.

[@Josh-st6sx]

​@brandonvasser5902 not to sound messed up but pretty sure a scientist would know that fact already lol

[@joshishmo]

a true scientist would wait for confirmation

[@CesarSandwich]

@@joshishmo this coming from a true scientist, right?

[@zackiaryruddick701]

This is all fake

[@manticore5733]

Forget life in space, we just found intelligent life on Earth - great interviewer and sensible scientist.

[@koppany3678]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ChuckFreeman0102]

No life was discovered lol

[@mikehancock6280]

The intelligent part is in question.

[@abrahammagdalena5821]

They must be the aliens

[@benliftin4awhile]

😂

[@TheTruthIsGonnaHurt]

This guy is the right type of humble. Intelligence and Humility means he won't rush this, his ego won't get in the way, so the odds are high and I hope he succeeds!

[@wheres_bears1378]

Those aliens are probably thinking oh no the humans have spotted us

[@frosties1123]

120 years from now

[@PostControlla]

​@@frosties1123 * 120+ years from now

[@sadisticlover6327]

Dark forest theory, if true we may have revealed ourselves.

[@deepasrinivasan3815]

😂😂

[@debbiemorrison2431]

There are no aliens!

[@TheSealDribble]

No bragging, no hyperbole, no claims of grandeur. Just talking about his duty and finding the truth. This is the kind of people that bring humanity forward!

[@IIISentorIII]

Could you repeat the Question?!

[@LukeNukem82]

I'm curious if you think that your statement is the way any scientists behave.. and if so which ones? because I've never met anyone like that, and perhaps only seen such in the movies.

[@DavidMcCoul]

Agreed!

[@DavidMcCoul]

@@LukeNukem82The ultimate goal of science is to uncover the truth. If scientists fail to convey humility, it is merely because they are human.

[@Jairan78]

Idk….50/50 is pretty ballsy🙃

[@MelliaBoomBot]

You could see the prof slowly relaxing as the interviewer actually asked proper questions with the right attitude..superb.

[@wilderbeast96]

He's so charmingly proud, and deservedly so.

[@eliwol3789]

He’s not better than me.

[@Slycoop]

I was disappointed he didn't ask how far the planet is

[@miked8249]

I mean interviewer couldn't stop making it about his show, begging the scientist to make him one of the first calls. Interviewer needs to get over himself

[@jvegas3209]

Ya he found it Washington DC

[@ryanbaker7404]

At 47, I grew up on a rural non light polluted cattle farm, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos on VHS, and dreams of the cosmos. To think that I am alive to see an instrument of such startling complexity and accuracy that can test, confirm or deny nearly everything that we’ve learned is mind boggling. 😮🎉❤

[@andreaodessa9181]

We need to come together as a species and I dont see any other way other than a discovery like this.

[@red88ization]

congratulations Professor Nikku Madhusudhan and team

[@nickhockings443]

I'm glad this Professor is a diligent, sober and cautious scientist, also that the interviewers asked serious questions.

[@digitalbath6057]

Thanks for this comment, now I'll watch the video😂

[@Kx0195]

The gent is on the complete other end of the spectrum to the guy who announced his room-temperature superconductor.

[@lincruste]

It's a UK thing

[@JZsBFF]

Cautious and serious? Pretty sensationalist more likely since the evidence for life on the planet is solely based on a statistical value that has a 2.4 sigma score... There's obviously a (lucrative) race among astronomers going on to be the first to find life outside Earth.

[@swayback7375]

@@JZsBFFuh… he sounded pretty cautious to me… what about this seems sensational to you?

[@mojojoji5493]

Detecting molecules from such a massive distance is insane to me

[@donnievance1942]

It is done by spectroscopic analysis of the light passing through the planet's atmosphere when the planet is between us and its sun.

[@Piecenotwar]

@@fplbrunoo858Not our sun, the sun in its own solar systems

[@aarondonald1611]

@@fplbrunoo858 its when the planet goes between earth and it's OWN sun. they analyze the tiny gradient of atmosphere you can see as it passes their sun and analyzing the light that's filtered through the atmosphere

[@mojojoji5493]

@@donnievance1942 thanks for that but the distance still boggles my mind lololol

[@lifesbutastumble]

@@fplbrunoo858 That's not what the comment said lol

[@youtubebannedme]

i could ask my mom that i can't find the evidence of life in other planet and my mom will find it immediately😂

[@Frankenstein3567]

Lol 😂

[@harshitamaurya7534]

So true!!!😭🤣🤣🤣

[@jajatipanda8427]

Underrated comment

[@kathycarlson7947]

50-50. This fills me with awe. What a humble, dedicated scientist!!

[@nickd4310]

Considering the vast size of the universe, finding life this close would indicate that life would be fairly common throughout the universe.

[@PersonaJohnGrata]

It's amazing, I look forward to the announcement!

[@keithposter5543]

*Could* be. Still a low sample size. Could be that it's fairly common in regions such as ours in galaxies like ours, but not in other galaxy types/more central regions etc etc. So many variables and unknowns. Fascinating!

[@SRMoore1178]

Very exciting. I don't care if it's intelligent beings or single cell organisms, life is life!

[@AutoAlligator]

"Life" is distinctly uncommon outside of our planet...in fact it does not exist.

[@sidsuspicious]

@@AutoAlligator You don't know that, I don't know that, nobody who has ever existed knows that... Just as bad as those imbeciles who proclaim life exists elsewhere in the Universe without a shred of evidence.

[@xthegreat1x]

They can find molecules on another planet but I still can’t find my tv remote in the house

[@biscuitdesigner7836]

Have you looked behind the Moon?

[@jamesbonds6924]

Detect a molecule.😂😂😂 aren't they everywhere?

[@Underpantsniper]

Do better

[@Joao-id4dn]

The sofa swallowed it

[@bazimyan]

HAH!

[@1More_Dreamer]

Do we realize we are living at the very momment in the history of humanity, that we are probably going to see the announcement of alien life?

[@kageotoshi]

Life is a stretch....you step on microbes daily, you inhale them.....is it even life xd

[@martiananomaly]

Yep especially with AI which would only accelerate our ability to find alien life.

[@mondiramaji791]

I’m scared

[@rohitptnk03]

Don't dream lol.

[@kitkat47chrysalis95]

evidence of megastructures would be interesting. microbes? potentially irrelevant. we already have evidence of organic material and dust, microbes is still 4 billion years away from what we would call intelligent life. we should be looking for Dyson swarms and star-lifting, not microbes.

[@ondrasramek8426]

A planet covered in oceans with potential life? *SUBNAUTICA ABANDON SHIP MUSIC INTENSIFIES*

[@MrRayrenz]

"Detecting multiple leviathan life forms in the region. Are you certain whatever you're doing is worth it?"

[@richrich2862]

New research suggests Exoplanet K2-18b may actually be a gas-rich planet with no habitable surface instead of a habitable water world.

[@Mkhehla]

"I would like to find what the truth is and leave it there. That is my number-1 duty here." Respect!!

[@southfieldtrill9690]

💯

[@WithmeVerissimusWhostoned]

I, and many others before me, already discovered aliens thru' the use of alternative means of discovery... this is no news, alas it might be for the next hundred of years, cuz people are slow to catch up

[@YNWA188..]

Probably got the f signal from his old micro wave 😂

[@kevinac4397]

Harvard disagrees

[@cjohnson5391]

@@kevinac4397explain please. I’m a stoner

[@ninjaplavi]

Interviewer: "Dumb question..." Then proceeds to ask a great logical question to put this discovery into perspective.

[@unlink1649]

The interviewer was amazing. By far the best I have ever seen someone interviewed on hard science

[@davidroberts6549]

We can all be grateful that this wasn’t the nick ferrari or Alan Dale show

[@hubadabubbada]

Haha its always unnerving when you speak with experts 😅

[@autumnb7135]

He’s one of the few really intelligent talk show hosts. He’s just brilliant.

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@jayashp3855]

the interview asked all the right questions, guy should start a podcast ngl

[@rahuldahoob]

He already has one. Called THE SESSION. TOM SWARBRICK. you're welcome 😊

[@jayashp3855]

@@rahuldahoob yo appreciate that

[@killerbee8892]

What a top guy, I love that people like this have come to the UK, such a blessing ❤

[@NorLedges]

As a certified and licensed Plummer employed by Alfa plumbing LLC, I can indeed confirm that this is in fact NOT a plumbing issue.

[@JotaroKujo-fr7uo]

It is what do you mean get your bull void projector ready

[@IBADSNU]

We'll cross it off the list. Thanks.

[@XxSniperFiendxX]

A leak is still possible

[@jamesstar33]

Get in the drainage guys

[@raptorschamps2099]

Is that a Rake reference?

[@RollcagerX]

Meanwhile alien scientists on K2-18 b are looking at Earth 120 years ago.

[@cdyanand]

And they're probably seeing horse and buggies 😂 The crazy part is by the time they arrive, we are already multiplanetary and have robots with AGI swarming the planet.

[@abrahammagdalena5821]

Put into perspective, before Australia was a "nation", before Aboriginals were "people", before the t model ford... Also interestingly, before the first atomic explosion. Considering how we began being "investigated" immediately thereafter, would indicate either there is a quicker way to observe at a distance by folding space or something or we had been under close surveillance before that event, but then there are reports of that being the case anyway But who knows if it's the same life forms we have had contact with so far, how many bioregions are there and which of them are aware of us?..

[@bharatcosmos7743]

Ww1

[@mawinstallation6626]

@@abrahammagdalena5821 Hold up wdym with "before aboriginals were people"

[@abrahammagdalena5821]

@@mawinstallation6626 we were legally counted as fauna and property of govt with no rights until 1967

[@ary2766]

glad my homeboy k2-18b getting the attention it deserves. Been fascinated with it for years

[@richardlee5412]

I've always found it almost poetic how the most obvious indicators of life across the stars were always predicted to come from not the largest but the smallest organisms which shine the brightest across the gulfs of space

[@private9402]

Beautifully put

[@balbindersingh8692]

Kudos to the interviewer for asking intelligent questions.

[@markmarson6483]

He didn't quite appreciate it, saying "proper life" at the end. The first detection of _any_ extraterrestrial life is significant.

[@SpaceLord2025]

lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll if you call those ?'s intelligent i feel so sorry for your parents!!!

[@uncensored393]

@@SpaceLord2025 "lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll" ...

[@cable7152]

​@@SpaceLord2025If you can't use actual words to make a mean comment, I feel bad for your parents.

[@jrspringston]

​@@SpaceLord2025 those questions are better than what USUALLY get asked. Get over yourself

[@jpdemer5]

I like that this guy is a serious scientist - he checked, double- and triple-checked, and talked to other scientists, rather than calling the media and flogging his story on interview shows.

[@thatguy2244]

Its what most scientists do. But when their conclusion is against republican politics...ppl say theyre quacks.

[@universalmother]

He didn't discover anything. You humans have never been alone.

[@hellion7514]

@@universalmotherHe discovered, he didn’t invent anything

[@msharp6887]

@@thatguy2244you really believe the propaganda that republicans are anti science?

[@ripkm-iwaly]

​@@universalmother that is a rather unscientific comment, if we have no proof even though the probablity is there, then we didn't discover anything, we only theorize about the likely probability of there being life, however, having absolute proof of unlikely circumstances to happen naturally outside of planet Earth without the existence of another biological organism is indeed evidence, therefore discovered.

[@diyak2182]

It's hard to put into words just how profound a discovery this could potentially be and to maybe experience this in our lifetimes!!

[@tenacity8281]

Given that 1 light year is approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers and the fastest spacecraft (Parker Solar Probe) can travel at a speed of 700,000 km/h. It would take approximately 185,290 years to cover 120 light years with our current fastest spacecraft.

[@JC-gv4dm]

I feel like most people don't realize the great distances between solar systems are. Then we talk about red shift stars... wonder how many astronomical miles they are away.

[@DirtyRed]

If the universe is expanding how would we even begin to catch up to it. I mean, isn't our very own galaxy moving millions of miles an hour through space?

[@tenacity8281]

@@DirtyRed While this expansion affects the distances between galaxies, it doesn't significantly impact distances within our own galaxy, the Milky Way. The gravitational forces within our galaxy are much stronger than the expansion of the universe, so objects within the Milky Way, such as stars and planets, are not being pushed away from each other by the expansion.Therefore, when considering travel within our galaxy, like to a planet 120 light years away, the expansion of the universe doesn't play a significant role in the travel time.

[@DirtyRed]

@tenacity8281 I was thinking this was in another galaxy my bad

[@tenacity8281]

@@DirtyRed no issues mate

[@jaymann.g]

Water on another planet? Organisms in the water? Get the rods boys, let's go fishing

[@compactreview]

We couldnt tell the difference of Earth and Venus, if both were an exoplanet. And Venus is absolutely leathal, even for medall. So dont get to excited with exoplanets :D look up who Dr. Anna Gülcher is. She is in a science group indirectly working for NASA to finally get some instruments to Venus to gather high quality data. Two weeks ago she said that in a colloquium at the University in Münster at an geophysical institute (Germany), where I am currently studying.

[@AstroLoops69]

@@compactreviewSo what I’m reading is that…you don’t want a fishing pole. No extra-solar fishing jamboree for you!

[@UchuuLightsaber]

What if there are large sea monsters instead? 😨

[@priv8_nobody359]

Sounds like we’ll need a real big rod then

[@squid1712]

Wishin I was fishin

[@lsu1992]

This is what a real, honest scientist looks like.

[@birdman9585]

As opposed to all the other fake, lying scientists?

[@williammullinax6130]

Don't hold your breath

[@ryanwood6006]

Is been so long since something brilliant has come forth to the anerican public

[@alexevans4877]

If he was being honest, he may have mentioned that its expected to have a temperature around 5000C, rather than saying, "Yes there is likely water there" over two and a half times the mass of earth, DNA is misshapen at temperatures around boiling at 100C. The Amount of information you have to ignore is insane. When he finally gets to sleep, hes going to be kicking himself. What a smear on Cambridge and its reputation.

[@zefallafez]

Greta Thunberg: How dare you!

[@apratimdutta2223]

As an Indian , he is one of the real inspirational IITians I could find. Not any big CEO or any politician but a real scientist working at the forefront of today's science.

[@danb8877]

CEOs and politicians are bottom of the barrel individuals and should never be held highly by society.

[@Stephenwithaphd]

Outstanding journalism and interview!

[@NeverQuiteAlex]

Well done to Tom for treating this interview with the respect, curiosity, and frankly awe that it deserved.

[@jolieakea1640]

I noticed that too that he was absolutely giddy about the implications, rightfully so

[@theboythatdid2495]

I liked the question about who do you call in that scenario where you have found signs of life on a planet other than our own

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@user-jd2xf1zf9m]

Joke joke joke! He detected alien life in a so far light years away from earth jajaja! Moon and Mars are so close to earth i wonder why he cant detect an alien life or he cant explore Mars and Moon he has the James webb telescope he can easily see the surface and map the whole moon or mars with HD pictures or videos jajaja jajajaja so he decided to go 124 light years away from earth jajaja with all the advance technologies at hand he cant explore moon or mars

[@juanalmos1959]

But can this prestigious scientist discover the science on how to make a ungrateful wife happy?🤔

[@costidisa]

The professor's response to "you will be the most famous person" was priceless, and reflective of the selflessness of so many of the scientists I know. How dramatically it contrasts with the rampant narcissism all around us. Kudos.

[@Chez8922-kf6cy]

IKR? Humble man. He's probably one of those people who is in it for the love of science and nothing else.

[@samus598]

That's just the nature of the internet. The narcissists post every day whether they have something interesting to contribute or not.

[@SGB1977]

Seems like a nice guy, for sure.

[@thejinn99]

@@samus598 IDK, man. I grew up when the internet started, and it wasn't like that in the beginning.

[@Majikfish]

@@thejinn99Have to agree with this statement. It wasn’t always like this. I can remember by parents and grandparents saying that “it’ll get ruined the same way that TV did eventually” or words to that effect. I naively didn’t believe them at the time, but here we are, and celebrity culture dominates what we see on the Internet… with the occasional brilliant exception such as videos like this one 🙂

[@groovy_jameshurt3]

We've all seen this simulation. Think about it. Then think about it again. -Ripley

[@yamyite]

Recon it’ll be full of reptiles/dinosaurs with Nokia brick phones, thinking they’re all advanced

[@MrJoel9679]

One week ago a man looked 120 years into the past and saw the future open up. He couldn’t shut his eyes for a week afterward. That’s intelligence and purpose right there. Bravo… bravo.

[@ChuckFreeman0102]

Who told you that hogwash ?

[@c3pno]

If he was that Intelligent he wouldn't be so excited over nothing, he'd keep his cool, this shows he is easily entertained and probably has a pea for a brain 👍 if an alien walked up to me and said we exist I wouldn't care as it doesn't change anything

[@jollyroger2012]

@@ChuckFreeman0102 what's hogwash about it. 120 light years away = light taking 120 years to get here showing us what it looked like 120 years ago

[@loodlebop]

​@@c3pno actually it changes just about everything, we'd be living in a different society before long

[@loodlebop]

​@@ChuckFreeman0102hogwash? That's literally what was spoken about in the video, did you not watch?

[@billysummers1616]

If this is confirmed, i think alot of people don't fully understand how big this is. To be alive now when humanity finds life outside of Earth is absolutely incredible.

[@genx7006]

But how would you really confirm it? Okay, there are strange gases on the planet, then what? What if you observe the planet for the next thousand years and nothing happens? You would have to visually detect some spacecraft floating around or something of true significance before declaring victory.

[@strayspark1967]

@@genx7006 agreed

[@Iz7zI]

Meh many times I hear there might be micro life forms etc etc. Of course their is life out there if there is the right conditions. I want to know if there is intelligent life

[@AEVMU]

​@@genx7006They detected a gas that is only produced by life. At least on this planet.

[@AdrianOkay]

​​@@Iz7zI give it a thousand years and a gorillion of funds, and maybe they'll discover some sort of crab living in the depths of some ocean planet ....and that's about it nothing else

[@wilko9346]

Looks like we’ll be calling it New Sudhan which is pretty cool.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Love how he sticks to following the processes, doing the science while remaining optimistic, letting the data speak for itself. Follow up with vigorous checking of the data and the workflow, and if he and his team are right, there's going to be a lot of money suddenly interested in space research. 120ly, not quite the celestial backyard, more, the block at the end of the street. Much closer then a lot of models for this stuff would have pointed to.

[@Suraj4m1n]

Interviewer : "You're perhaps couple of months away from being very famous" Professor talks about his duty instead. What a humble guy. 🙌

[@seanmartyn3956]

You can tell too though he’s just so excited and rightfully so! The poor guy lol

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@ZackestTV]

That's nerve wracking lol

[@Ben-iz9ud]

Meanwhile the government is has been tracking them for 70 years

[@Nitidus]

There seems to be a little misunderstanding here. None of this is actually about life on K2-18b. When the planet was first observed in 2019, there were very tiny, ambiguous signs that maybe, just maybe, there could be Dimethylsulfide in the atmosphere of K2-18b. That's what they're looking at right now. It's just about whether this one molecule might be detectable or not. The reason that's interesting is because for all we currently know, DMS can only be produced by biological processes, on Earth it's phytoplankton, and would therefore suggest the existence of life on this exoplanet. Now there are several problems with claiming the existence of life over there based on DMS. First of all, the initial data suggesting DMS in K2-18b's atmosphere was very, very thin. It's very possible that it was just a misinterpretation. But most importantly, we don't have proof that DMS actually means life. We don't REALLY know that it's a biosignature. There were other molecules we thought couldn't exist without biological processes, like whatever we found in Venus's atmosphere recently, and then somebody came out with a purely chemical reaction that produces the stuff. It's just that here on Earth, we haven't discovered a non-biological source for DMS. Long story short, IF it turns out to actually be DMS, we MIGHT have found a biosignature, but we STILL WON'T KNOW for sure if this ACTUALLY means, "Life." If the theories are correct, K2-18b is a massive planet with a hydrogen atmosphere that's covered in deep oceans. We can't just zoom in 124 light-years and see for ourselves. Not even the new iPhone can.

[@MalTimeTV]

If we are finding bio-markers on an exo-planet that is a mere 120 light years away, that sounds very much like a possible hint that the galaxy is simply teeming with life.

[@keithposter5543]

Possibly, but also possible that only in regions like ours. Conditions towards the galactic centre are quite different

[@adayinthelife5496]

It makes communication difficult.

[@Ixaglet]

Makes the fermi paradox all the more interesting

[@Jacob-ed1bl]

A mere 120 light years away, that's all, lol. I get it, in the grand size of the universe that isn't much but it's still unbelievable far away for us.

[@robertloader9826]

@@keithposter5543Because life is most likely uncommon there due to…radiation?

[@ShaoMan-yw2gf]

Truly a gentleman with nothing but pure brain power and intelligence.

[@WistrelChianti]

I had the best advert cut on this... Interviewer: "you are perhaps a few months away from becoming the most famous person on earth" Greg Secker: "Job done! Perfect!"

[@JakeAdkinsOfficial]

Man, I wish our US news media could be more like this...what a refreshing interview...

[@james505ism]

Should see some of the other presenters on LBC, they aren’t all like this 😂

[@user-wh3vq1qi7x]

​@@james505ismbeat me to it 😆

[@JakeAdkinsOfficial]

@jacobclement8150 not really. I wouldn't have heard about this story without this interview...

[@vincea1830]

​@jacobclement8150 and random opinion pieces with certain facts withheld that go against the media's bias is better? Are you looking for an entertaining tv show, or the actual news?

[@camelcase_4336]

@jacobclement8150 get back to your reality tv shows jacob, this is for adults with a brain.

[@DanTheSquid]

What an incredibly humble man, Professor Nikku Madhusudhan deserves our accolades for his efforts regardless of the outcome of this tremendous find.

[@1antti]

Lets name the planet Nikku

[@LATR0NIS]

@@1antti At least until the aliens tell us what it's called.

[@jacobkuntflapp]

Tremendous. What a word!

[@giovannifederici673]

You sound ridiculous

[@uncontrollable343]

⁠@@giovannifederici673I’m sorry you feel that way Giovanni. Mind telling us who shat in your Carbonara?

[@cranberrycanvas]

The craziest thing about life on this planet to me is the way it looks. This video is a great example all of the logos and chyrons and colors like we’ve created this analogous world inside of the natural world that is a reflection of us and mostly our sensibilities and formulas of what the human eye responds to

[@yates6608]

It would be brilliant if they actually made a documentary about it, all the space documentaries have been on repeat for the last 20 years

[@tvs3038]

The universe being full of life makes you realize that you also are an 'alien', in case you wonder what an alien looks like

[@michaelbarker6460]

Well maybe you do but my mom says I'm very handsome

[@stephenrose9845]

We know this. Trump supporters tell us millions are crossing the border every year

[@ultratronger]

​@@stephenrose9845dude im not american but why do you pretend like there isnt a huge issue of illegal immigration into the US and that its made up by trump lol

[@gha5243]

@stephenrose9845.... Please tell me you aren't implying that immigrants aren't crossing the border in record numbers and infesting our country. Please tell me that you aren't so far removed from reality, that your hate doesn't let you realize what is real and what is not

[@wenzyybeats9223]

@@ultratrongeryou gotta be 12

[@EaglesQuestions]

What always happens: *News:* Aliens! *Later:* It's dust.

[@kevinmcdowell9074]

I can't help but think back to the time President Bill Clinton made a similar announcement...turned out to be nothing much. So lets tone down the proclamations that we found "proper life" as the interviewer put it. Still waiting on evidence.

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@ashes2diamond]

Booo. Boooooooooo. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Well... maybe this time, right?

[@peeper2070]

More specifically: Scientist: Statistically possible chance we may have detected markers of biological systems on an exoplanet News: Aliens! Later: It’s dust

[@newbie504]

Yeah, since I was a kid (30yo now), the news has always been "water on some moon" somewhere like it was a big thing. 25 years later and things did not advance much...

[@hikingwithhollywood]

Terrific interview and really amazing. This is the type of guy you want to discover life the first time

[@CityColourr]

What a great communicator the professor is!

[@peacetoall1858]

50/50 chance of life having been found on another planet is crazy amazing

[@jimmyzhao2673]

It's never Aliens.

[@Beeti1]

It's not 50/50.

[@matthewclarke5008]

@@jimmyzhao2673 Most likely bacteria.

[@asburycollins9182]

Since there was water on mars its save to assume it also supported life at some point in time

[@captainchillygorilla7315]

@@asburycollins9182no it is not

[@SecondaryHomunculus]

There's an alien on that planet, sitting on his alien toilet with some weird mobile device in his tentacle, watching a video of his planet's scientists discuss Earth.

[@jasonsmithy6822]

Hahaha superb 👌

[@BushmanCanuck]

...planning a planetary take over.

[@RSCALES11]

You ever think life for aliens could be completely different than how we live?

[@scoobertmcruppert2915]

@@RSCALES11I sure hope so

[@binks7988]

😂100% doing that right now

[@leodv1922]

So when do we fly there to give them the gift of democracy?

[@payojaaa]

the professor is so sweet and humble!!

[@Yosser70]

I don’t know who I’m more impressed with, the scientist with an amazing discovery or the reporter, who actually asked relevant and insightful questions. Well done to both, as they are both needed in the world today, and many more like them.

[@glenhendry]

This

[@oggyoggy1299]

The scientist.

[@Gainzster]

Why is everything so surprising to everyone nowadays?

[@novelas3536]

​@@Gainzster Standards lowered for the weak and inept makes anyone who is competent seem like a gem when it should be the standard.

[@sigma_curry]

R u a real commenter

[@DjScary1122]

We are actually happy, that this is a normal interview...its so sad that this is not the standard

[@guzvar]

We? Are you Venom or what?

[@RyuLongRHOG]

We are the Hive.

[@vishwas425]

@@guzvar 💀💀

[@SACKBOY123432]

​@@guzvar He has two brain halfes so technically everyone is two people working together as one

[@afoxstale]

@@guzvarwe are legion

[@jesus_inco]

You work for 40yrs to have $1m in your retirement, Meanwhile some people are putting just $10k in a meme coin for just few months and now they are multi millionaires. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life

[@cachetes888]

Guys, do you realize his way of explaining the questions? This is someone who is in search of the truth and you can tell by his honesty and humbleness. True science spirit ❤

[@TheBanjoShowOfficial]

Someone who is in search of truth is confessed to Jesus Christ. The only spirit that there is which is in truth is the spirit in Jesus Christ. Stop worshipping the doctrine of men.

[@realherobrine5636]

@@TheBanjoShowOfficial Yo did you know im jesus

[@tedz2usa]

The interviewer has utmost appreciation for the meaning and ramifications of this scientific discovery. He deserves to be the one to break the official news when it comes!

[@charlesgay-ms6yt]

Yes I agree,

[@aaabbb-py5xd]

Lol, so not those who actually made the discovery

[@chocoolatey]

If K2-18B has sentient life and they are observing us with powerful telescopes, they would be seeing the beginning of the 1900s on Earth... Crazy....

[@OnePiecerooles]

😮

[@RogueElement.]

Hah same goes for us ... They may already have Big FVCKING guns aimed towards us and we're looking at the past 😂🤷🏾

[@Kryptarch]

I want to go there lol

[@JoshOSU73]

That's because he didn't begin with "Hi, my name is Brandon!"

[@nathanieldesanctis7790]

Same for the gas he discovered on K12-18B. We are seeing wat on this planet 124 years ago. Who knows what it will be like when we get there.

[@GlitchedXP]

As a voices of the void player, I see this as a win

[@FIintztone]

Can someone link me what do the actual images look like from these telescopes and what the method is they use to detect certain molecules from light years away?

[@Moggery]

Credit to the interviewer. He asked fantastic questions, that highlighted the key areas for the average person not familiar with scientific lingo.

[@AnthonyODOnnell-tt8gh]

🔥 He oozes Humilty. This guy is...🙌 🔥

[@BrunetteVignette]

Give me a look that way but he's not telling you that there's a whole host of researchers that went before him who have suspected that exoplanet of harboring life for a long time. He's soaking up the Limelight but it shouldn't all be his.

[@allnewnow2023]

@@BrunetteVignette Wow, you're bitter.

[@InderMand79]

He clearly mentions the effort of his team.

[@Xboxlegand874]

Like Eddie howe

[@AnthonyODOnnell-tt8gh]

​@@Xboxlegand874 agreed, just different job titles.

[@CrownedGaming]

Definitely can't wait to see what their in depth analysis reveals... Crazy!

[@mm1k3y]

It's fascinating that it may have been found but I've undoubtedly believed the universe is as full of life as it is full of galaxies, moons, mountains, craters, rivers, stars, and planets...

[@dismalfist]

And it goes "Take me to your leader" *Rishi Sunak appears* *It sighs, gets in the spaceship and leaves*

[@brianferguson7840]

Thanks😂 I enjoyed that !

[@anonony9081]

It would be cool if they asked to meet our leaders and then sent them all into the vacuum of space. if they are super advanced they will recognize who the tyrants are and who is holding us back from flourishing

[@strikeforcealpha9343]

That's a really small space ship then.... ar.

[@CL-un9gg]

It’s disappointment spooked the horses 😂

[@mikeomolt4485]

Rishi would refer them to Netanyahu.

[@mariocastillo8334]

Prof. Madhusudhan understands quite clearly the concept of "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence". Science doesn't always reassure with answers, but should try to reassure by the discipline of following its own rules when seeking for those answers.

[@YeaaIJusShiddedOnEm]

This is not true. Extraordinary claims require the same evidence as any other type of claim, not some special type of extraordinary evidence. Not trying to argue, I just hate that phrase 🤣

[@MajorMosh710]

This is big. Even if it isn’t microorganisms making the sulphide, it’s still a new discovery worth investigating and that’s still exciting.

[@hamzahajji5814]

I thought it was twomad in the thumbnail

[@tg4941]

Nikku Madhusdhan a name that will go down in history? K2 18b. Give that man a raise.

[@boltzmannbrain6607]

I hope not because that name is hard to remember and pronounce

[@TechnoViking__]

@@boltzmannbrain6607racist

[@tg4941]

@@boltzmannbrain6607 I expect some couldn't say Einstein either.

[@paulmuriithi9195]

@@TechnoViking__ cmon pls some light banter to a science video isnt too bad..

[@_sayan_roy_]

@@TechnoViking__ It is alright and I'm an Indian.

[@jguitar23]

Let's not forget the generations of scientists, engineers, teachers, businesses, technicians & support staff that have made & make this type of inquiry possible.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

He is only there be cource he is from India (the Country without toilets)

[@HedgeWalker]

@@VicGreenBitcoinsomeone else who gets it. Staged story

[@SirHargreeves]

Exactly, NASA telescope was used.

[@point-xn4tu]

Let's not forget the generations of scientists, engineers, etc who made great discoveries but were silenced so the cover-ups could continue.

[@jameswatson5807]

@@VicGreenBitcoin What's with all the right wing stuff, at least India has a space programme, they are the first to land on one of the moons polar region's. They are the first to find water on the moon, the UK sent a probe to mars and that failed. You should not be throwing shade at India. The UK has all the history of empire, and industrial revolution the UK should have sent a British man on the moon from the 70s on British made rocket , USA or the soviets were going to win but the brits should have been not that far behind. They should be looking to send a brit to mars, all they are doing is piggy backing off the American's. What ever motivation British the British had to go around the would, and do empire stuff they lost all that drive after WW2. The reality is the UK does not have enough wealth for a space programme, yet you are making negative jokes about India, the jokes on you because Indian will soon in the next 2 year send an Indian space on an Indian built rocket. Great Britain yeah you guys were great once but others have risen, look at china compared to the UK.

[@twelvesmylimit]

What a beautiful man the scientist is.

[@dukesgixer5365]

Sounds like a kids bedtime story...😂

[@VicJang]

It so refreshing to see an actual, real scientist talking about alien discovery. There’s literally no bs, everything he said was based on observation and actually collected data. This isn’t your everyday lunatics claiming alien abduction folks, this is the real deal!

[@williamborregard6384]

Tell me what makes a real scientist. If I conduct experiments based of observations and run these postulations through the scientific method, me performing science makes me a scientist, yeah?

[@boongash]

@@williamborregard6384 by definition but you'll need a degree and publish papers to be recognized by the establisment

[@VoodooWalterWhite]

​@williamborregard6384 What is this comment? Dude is right, it's nice to see a real scientist give us data and update of a possible discovery. I don't understand what is so incomprehensible to you? Simple, the one who has devoted his life to science and has high education for any of the scientific fields and also has access to high grade equipment for searching around universe is a person you can trust about this information. It's not just as simple as "doing scientific calculations". It's his position, his diplomas etc.. Regarding your intelligent comment, I would say if you even manage to do a "scientific calculation" it would be a breakthrough on its own.

[@williamborregard6384]

@@VoodooWalterWhite 😂you’re a real winner

[@williamborregard6384]

@@VoodooWalterWhite I suppose you’re operating at a real high level of intelligence . Given you think space is real and “alien life” exists . A level of irony I wasn’t ready for . While your attempted insult was there, I find it far more hilarious than insulting . Space 😂what a joke

[@the_best_of_times]

My man absolutely beamed when the host said there were more amounts of this substance seen in the exoplanet atmos than Earth.

[@SurinderNagi-yw6qn]

Too many dinosourous and big trees

[@ThursoBerwick]

I would like to know why the amount is lower on Earth. Is there some mechanism which removes it from our atmosphere over time?

[@diegogschmidt]

@@ThursoBerwick Biomass ?

[@essexlad8151]

​@@ThursoBerwickThe planet is over twice the size of earth and could have a population density far greater than ours. Plus as you mentioned, there could be a environmental factor that means the molecule chains remaining intact longer.

[@er4din903]

To be honest this seems suspicious to me - we know that there is a lot of life on earth (duh) and this planet which shows no other signs of habitation by life other than this has has more of it than we do? Until we have more information, I think it’s more likely that on this planet, for some reason, there exists a way for this gas to be produced naturally without any biological process, rather than for it to have an ocean with orders of magnitude more life than on our planet,

[@christophgouws8311]

This guy is going to be millions of years old when we finally reach that planet. Welldone buddy💪

[@tunaSalsa]

Another crazy thing about these type of discoveries is that with this planet being 120 lightyears away, what we see is the planet from 120 years ago, so we dont even know how it has developed and what it looks like in present time

[@stuart207]

Professor Nikku Madhusudhan. You are a credit to the scientific community. Bravo 👏

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@stuffedgrubs]

So unassuming and humble. Exactly what the world needs.

[@stuart207]

Absoduckinlutely. What a decent, enthusiastic teacher. Noble peace prize incoming...

[@stuart207]

For the amount of organic compound they've found I can easily imagine a planet of mega fauna. What an amazing time to be alive!

[@FoggyPigeon]

How has this not been bigger news? This is incredible. This has the potential to be the single biggest discovery in human history.

[@tonyslicer7399]

😂😂😂😂😂 stop

[@Valkyrae123]

Because its not confirmed yet and like he said its a 50/50 chance so they’re still not 100% sure if life exist on the planet

[@jamessmith785]

People are too preoccupied by themselves and their socials to care about anything going on in the world.

[@JCL1023]

Because with current technology it would take about 2.2 million years to send the fastest probe we have. It's just not relevant yet or possibly ever.

[@popcultexpress]

it has been huge news my friend but im guessing your algorithm doesnt show much news like this. It has been in the on and offline media for a bit now. Dimethyl sulphide REMEMBER.

[@sheeeeshhh573]

I subscribed due to his delivery and that news is insane

[@kaustavp]

So our scientists are seeing 124 years back into that planet.

[@jeffdeloach1786]

This dude is humility personified. If hes correct....my dude HAS to get the Nobel Prize. With an extra kicker bonus.

[@moose2943]

The CIA released documents last year stating they’ve known about aliens for decades

[@michaelc2923]

What is he getting a noble prize for?

[@FadingVitals]

Yes, for what?

[@lessgo8738]

Fr bro aint getting no nobel prize🤣🤣

[@merlebarney]

If he’s actually found verifiable alien life he should win a Nobel Prize in Astrobiology.

[@suhanii8837]

The fact he is an Indian🧿 Makes me so proud!✨

[@spencercress5348]

Man, all this excited stuff but I was so bummed out he didn't drop the old 'either we did, or we didn't' after saying 'at this point I would say 50/50'

[@WillTrespass]

Always scary searching for alien life when we don’t even get along with each other on earth 😅

[@OriginalContent89]

Don't worry, I'm sure rebelling against our alien overlords will bring us together

[@krox477]

Yeah humans will colonize it soon

[@mr.guzwee7695]

Interplanetary travel and discovery will continue

[@zerma6]

Maybe we need to find aliens to hate them and love each others

[@swivels]

They might have oil

[@Reichenbach459]

Professor checks out He has maths on his board in the back

[@axel_r_]

Greenscreen!

[@lllz9800]

And how can you be so sure? ​@@axel_r_

[@brettcheatham3030]

NERDS!!!

[@realitykicksin8755]

Chemistry & thermodynamics

[@minxiie]

This is Nikku Madhusudhan, Really feeling proud as an Indian 🇮🇳❤️

[@susheeldagar]

Real British gems , exactly the kind of people we need .

[@Stonehawk]

All the most profound discoveries were heralded not by an exuberantly shouted "Eureka!" but by a tentatively murmured "...Huh. That's interesting..."