Nearby super-Earth K2-18 b may be a water-rich ocean planet: 'This has certainly increased the chances of habitability'
Space.comThursday, July 31, 2025 at 10:00:00 AM
Scientists are buzzing about super-Earth K2-18 b, a distant planet that might be covered in a vast ocean. New data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggests it’s loaded with water vapor—though we still don’t know if it could actually support life. The discovery amps up excitement because water is a key ingredient for habitability, but researchers are careful to say they haven’t found definitive proof of life (or even conditions perfect for it). Still, it’s a tantalizing clue in the cosmic hunt for another Earth-like world.
Editor’s Note: Finding a water-rich planet relatively "close" to us (in space terms, anyway) is a big deal—it’s like spotting a promising oasis in a desert of uninhabitable rocks. While K2-18 b isn’t confirmed to be habitable yet, it’s now one of the top candidates for scientists to study further. This kind of discovery pushes the boundaries of where we might eventually find life beyond Earth, and it shows how powerful tools like the JWST are at peeling back the mysteries of distant worlds. For space nerds and casual observers alike, it’s a reminder that the universe might be far weirder—and wetter—than we imagined.
— Curated via WP Now’s
