A team of scientists from Germany and Portugal has proposed a new approach to detect life on Mars using microbes that attract to amino acids. The method, described in a study published today, uses chemotaxis, the movement of organisms in response to chemicals, to identify potential signs of extraterrestrial life. Researchers used “hypothetical Martian microbes” known for surviving harsh conditions, such as bacteria and archaea, to test the approach. They found that these microorganisms were attracted to L-serine, an amino acid present on early Earth and potentially on Mars. The study’s simplicity makes it a promising method for future space missions, which could use automatic systems with smaller equipment to analyze results.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/this-clever-trick-could-help-us-spot-life-on-mars-2000560447