Who is Dr Nikku Madhusudhan? Indian-origin scientist behind possible alien life discovery

In what could be a landmark discovery in the search for alien life, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest signs yet of possible life beyond our solar system. The spotlight is now on a distant world called K2-18b, located 120 light-years away from Earth.

A team led by Dr Nikku Madhusudhan, a Cambridge University astrophysicist of Indian origin, has identified intriguing chemical signatures in the planet’s atmosphere, most notably dimethyl sulfide (DMS). This gas on Earth is exclusively produced by life, mainly marine algae.

K2-18b, a type of planet classified as “hycean”—a term coined by Dr Madhusudhan himself—has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and potentially harbors oceans beneath. These unique features make it one of the most promising candidates to find extraterrestrial life.

All About Dr Madhusudhan

Dr Madhusudhan is a Professor of Astrophysics and Exoplanetary Science at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, where he leads the dedicated “Hycean Team.”

His research spans a wide range of topics in the field of exoplanets, including planetary atmospheres, interiors, formation processes, habitability, biosignatures, and the study of hycean worlds—a concept he pioneered as a promising class of planets that could support life.

Madhusudhan’s journey started in India, where he earned his BTech from IIT (BHU), Varanasi. He later pursued his Master’s and PhD at MIT, working alongside renowned exoplanet researcher Dr Sara Seager. His 2009 doctoral thesis focused on retrieving atmospheric properties of extrasolar planets—a field he continues to pioneer today.

While the presence of DMS is not definitive proof of life, it is a compelling clue. The scientific community is now watching closely as Dr Madhusudhan and his team deepen their exploration of K2-18b and its intriguing biosignatures.