Cambridge University issued a press release on a study about exoplanet K2-18b, suggesting possible signs of life, but the headline overstated the findings.
The actual study published cautiously reported detecting dimethyl sulphide or dimethyl disulphide in the planet’s atmosphere — substances linked to life on Earth.
Scientists, including the study’s authors, emphasized the need for more data and careful analysis, noting such early findings can often be overturned.
While space research like this is valuable and curiosity-driven, it is increasingly threatened by political interference and funding cuts.
Under U.S. President Donald Trump, several science budgets were slashed, including those at NASA and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and universities faced pressure to limit DEI efforts or risk losing funding.
These actions undermine scientific freedom, weaken essential research, and make science more vulnerable to ideology and misinformation.
COMMENTS