‘Never quit the lunar quest’ was this moon mission’s motto. Here’s its tragic tale

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

(CNN) — As scientists search for worlds that may be habitable for life, they’ve discovered a type that is common in the universe — but doesn’t exist in our own solar system.

These enigmatic planets are called sub-Neptunes, which are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.

An April study catapulted one such world, named K2-18b, into the spotlight. Astronomers at the University of Cambridge claimed they detected molecules in the planet’s atmosphere that might be biosignatures — markers of biological activity that could hint at past or present life.

Now, other groups of astronomers have looked at the same data and disagree with the findings, saying there is more to the story.

The twists and turns in the ongoing conversation around planet K2-18b showcase why