Scientists searching for alien life have found a new strategy to detect life beyond Earth. Traditionally, researchers focused on finding planets similar to our own, but a recent study suggests that searching for unique biosignature gases could provide clearer evidence of living organisms.
The study, led by researchers from the University of California, Riverside, discovered a gas called methyl halides, which are produced by bacteria, marine algae, fungi, and certain plants on Earth. These gases are not easily detectable with current technology but can accumulate in hydrogen-rich atmospheres, making them a promising target for future missions.
Instead of searching for planets like Earth, scientists are now focusing on “hycean planets,” larger bodies covered in deep oceans and thick hydrogen atmospheres. This type of planet is too large to be detected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) but may offer a clearer signal than smaller, Earth-like planets.
Detecting methyl halides could provide evidence of microbial life beyond our solar system. The study’s authors believe that finding these gases could be more efficient than searching for other biosignatures and could potentially reveal life on exoplanets in as little as 13 hours with the JWST.
While direct sampling of exoplanet atmospheres remains out of reach, advances in telescope technology and observational techniques could change that. The study’s findings build on previous research into biosignature gases and could reshape our understanding of life’s distribution across the universe.
The search for alien life continues, with researchers planning to extend their investigations to other planetary types and biosignature gases. The proposed European LIFE mission, expected to launch in the 2040s, may confirm these biosignatures in less than a day.
This new strategy offers hope for detecting life beyond Earth and could be the first step towards finding extraterrestrial life.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-planets-may-be-the-place-to-look-for-extraterrestrial-life