It was an excited crowd that filled a lecture hall at Cambridge University’s Institute of Astronomy on Thursday afternoon. There were seasoned professors, gaggles of graduate students and studious researchers. Even the astronomer royal, Lord Rees of Ludlow, had come along to the hastily arranged seminar.
They were there to see Dr Nikku Madhusudhan, professor of astrophysics and exoplanetary science, discuss an astounding finding.
Madhusudhan and his team believed they had established the strongest evidence yet that life exists on another planet. Newspapers around the world that morning carried his claim that a watery planet called K2-18b — roughly 124 light years from Earth — may be “teeming” with algae-like organisms. The 100-strong audience was “even more excited than I am”, says Madhusudhan.
Why won’t the aliens take her? I’ve often thought this. I’m ready. pic.twitter.com/J9blQIjjsZ
— Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) April 20, 2025
