News Planetary Science

Methylated gases could be an unambiguous indicator of alien life

On Earth, these gases are almost always produced only by organisms

An illustration of an exoplanet passing in front of a star.

Light passing through the atmospheres of planets in distant solar systems (illustrated) could reveal compounds that alien organisms might make to protect themselves from toxic elements.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

By James R. Riordon

SEATTLE — Attention alien hunters: If you want to find life on distant planets, try looking for signs of toxic chemical cleanup. 

Gases that organisms produce as they tidy up their environments could provide clear signs of life on planets orbiting other stars, researchers announced January 9 at the American Astronomical Society meeting.