K2-18b: did JWST really find evidence of life on this exoplanet?

Awesome summary: "Promise me you'll bear all of this in mind...just because one model fits the data doesn't mean there aren't other models..." This is such a good summary of the essence of science that I will probably point my students at this video, whether we are studying anything to do with exoplanets or not.

One thing that blows my mind is that I went to university to study astrophysics not very long after the first exoplanet was discovered. I found it fascinating back then that we had the ability to detect planets around other stars. And now we're able to analyse the light passing through the atmospheres of these planets. I wonder where we'll be in another 30 years time.

"Well, this kind of confusion, of not knowing what the actual right answer is, is science in action and it's wonderful to see." This attitude is honestly the main reason I subscribed to your channel. I love it.

1st rule of media: Don't let data & scientific analysis get in the way of selling a good story.

Just want to point out that magma means underground molten rock, where lava means topside molten rock. So a magma ocean would mean an underground ocean of molten rock. I guess that's sort of what we have right here at home in our own planet. In other words, we got K2-18b at home! :D

Dr. Becky videos are just pure gems. Thank you again.

Ok, we need to build a bigger telescope right now.

I simply love your channel because you illustrate quite well how same data can be interpreted in many different ways. And which is why we need to keep asking questions and obtaining more data to better understand our universe just a little more clearly.

Awesome analysis. You break it down nicely for the layman. Appreciate you! Keep up the great work.

I was in high school when discovery of the first exoplanet was announced. And now, we might soon have evidence of life on them. It almost feels like science fiction.

THANKS! I saw the headlines but didn't even bother to read, hoping it'd be covered here, especially if it wasn't the usual news hype.

I listen to this and am reminded of the old saying: Lies, damned lies and STATISTICS. Excellent explanation of something that goes so far over my head it could be in orbit 😊

Another great video... Thanks Dr. Becky <3 from Scotland

I really like the way you cover this by talking through each of the papers.

Thanks so much for creating and sharing this informative video. Great job. Keep it up.

Thank you for this great report! I've subscribed and I'm looking forward to more. As I watched, I was paying as much attention to the data analysis as to K2-18b itself. I'm applying to a Masters program in economics, and for that I'll need to know statistics and other analytical tools. So as your video got toward the end I was thinking, OK, time to start on that. And hey ho there you go, you're talking about Brilliant and its new material on data analysis. Synchronicity -- you gotta love it. Thank you for that too. Cheers, Chris Schulman

Your excitement about hat you do is invigorating and I enjoy listening to you explain plausible possibilities of complex scenarios is mesmerizing. I'm a retired Industrial teacher and I know when someone is doing a great job. I do share your astronomical interest. Have a sunny day and a clear night!

As a non-scientist, but an armchair science enthusiast, it drives me crazy to see the claims that some of these "scientists" make using such imperfect data. The ambiguity in the data leaves way too much room for interpretation to make a claim this important.

Thank you as always for making the complex easy to understand for the casual observer.

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