Scientists are revolutionising the search for extraterrestrial life by challenging our somewhat Earth-centric assumptions about where and how life might exist in the universe. A new review argues that we must embrace the remarkable diversity of exoplanets discovered over the past two decades and consider a much broader range of environments that could potentially host life.
With the James Webb Space Telescope now operational and capable of analyzing exoplanet atmospheres, researchers led by MIT's Sara Seager are pushing for a more inclusive approach to identifying biosignature gases, chemical signs of life on distant worlds. The traditional focus on finding "Earth twins" orbiting Sun-like stars may be too narrow, given the scarcity of such targets and the incredible variety of planetary environments that exist.
The research highlights how adaptable life on Earth really is. Bacteria can survive and thrive in atmospheres rich in gases like hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, conditions once thought hostile to life. These extremophiles, organisms that flourish in physically or chemically extreme conditions, demonstrate that life's requirements may be far more flexible than previously assumed.
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