Scientists may have discovered a new way to detect life on other planets, according to research published in Nature Astronomy. For years, researchers have searched for specific molecules as signs of life, but this new approach focuses on the hidden order connecting those molecules.
Statistical Approach to Biosignatures
The study borrows an ecological concept that measures biodiversity by species richness and evenness. Applying this to extraterrestrial chemistry, scientists analyzed amino acids and fatty acids from asteroids and fossils. They found that biological samples showed clear organizational patterns, distinctly different from nonliving chemistry.
Reliable Detection Even in Degraded Samples
This method consistently distinguished biological from abiotic samples, even in highly degraded materials like fossilized dinosaur eggshells. The statistical signatures of life were preserved, offering a robust tool for future missions.
Complementing Existing Methods
Lead author Fabian Klenner noted that no single method can prove alien life, but combining approaches strengthens the case. “If different techniques all point in the same direction, that becomes very powerful,” he said. The new method could analyze data from instruments already in space, without requiring specialized equipment.
The paper, titled ‘Molecular diversity as a biosignature’, was published in Nature Astronomy and represents a significant step forward in astrobiology.
