A new method for searching for extraterrestrial life has been found

Researchers have proposed a revolutionary method for detecting signs of life on distant planets, focusing on gases that were previously not considered as potential biomarkers. According to a study published in the prestigious scientific journal Astrophysical Journal Letters, methylhalides - compounds produced by microorganisms on Earth, can accumulate in the atmospheres of exoplanets and be detected using the James Webb Space Telescope.

Traditionally, the search for extraterrestrial life has focused on detecting oxygen and methane, however, identifying these substances in the atmospheres of distant planets presents significant technical difficulties. A group of scientists from the University of California, Riverside has developed an alternative strategy - the study of so-called Hycean planets, characterized by an abundance of water and the presence of a dense hydrogen atmosphere.

Despite the fact that conditions on such planets are unsuitable for human existence, they can become an ideal environment for microorganisms capable of producing methylhalides. The important advantage of these gases is that they are significantly easier to detect using modern astronomical equipment. The researchers' calculations show that the James Webb telescope is capable of detecting the presence of these compounds in just 13 hours of observations.

The detection of methylhalides simultaneously in the atmospheres of several exoplanets could become convincing evidence that life in the Universe is much more widespread than previously thought. In the future, this method can be applied using more advanced telescopes, such as LIFE, which will potentially be able to confirm the presence of these compounds in less than 24 hours.

To deepen the understanding of which gases can serve as indicators of life on other planets, scientists plan to study extreme habitats on Earth - conditions in which only the most resilient organisms survive. These studies will help determine which substances may indicate the presence of life in other worlds and where to look for extraterrestrial organisms in the coming decades.