Scientists have uncovered a compelling new strategy for detecting life on distant planets—one that focuses not on Earth-like worlds, but on exotic planets with thick hydrogen atmospheres and oceans, and on unusual gases that life on Earth rarely produces in large quantities.
In a new paper published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, researchers from the University of California, Riverside suggest targeting methyl halides—gases composed of a methyl group (carbon and three hydrogen atoms) bonded to a halogen such as chlorine or bromine. On Earth, these gases are produced by microorganisms like bacteria, marine algae, fungi, and some plants. They are typically present in only trace amounts in our atmosphere.
The team believes that these gases could serve as biosignatures—indicators of life—on exoplanets with very different environments from Earth. These include so-called Hycean planets: large, ocean-covered worlds with thick hydrogen-rich atmospheres, orbiting small red dwarf stars. While hostile to humans, such planets may be suitable for microbial life.
Detecting signs of life on planets like Earth is extremely difficult with current technology. Earth-sized planets are too dim and small to be observed effectively by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). In contrast, Hycean planets are larger and produce clearer atmospheric signals, making them better candidates for biosignature searches.
“Unlike an Earth-like planet, where telescope limitations make detection tricky, Hycean planets offer a much cleaner signal,” said Eddie Schwieterman, astrobiologist and co-author of the study. “They may not be habitable to humans, but they could be home to microbial life.”
Methyl halides are particularly promising because their strong infrared absorption makes them easier to detect with JWST. According to planetary scientist and lead author Michaela Leung, detecting these gases could require as little as 13 hours of telescope time—less than what's typically needed for gases like oxygen or methane.
The unique conditions on Hycean planets may allow methyl halides to accumulate in much higher concentrations than on Earth, increasing their visibility to astronomers. “These microbes would likely be anaerobic and adapted to an environment very different from ours,” Schwieterman explained. “But these gases could still be a byproduct of their metabolism.”
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This study builds on earlier work that examined other potential biosignature gases, such as dimethyl sulfide. Methyl halides, however, stand out due to their detectability and the possibility of high concentrations in hydrogen-dominated atmospheres.
While JWST is currently the most powerful tool for this kind of observation, future missions like the proposed European LIFE (Large Interferometer For Exoplanets) telescope could significantly boost detection capabilities. If launched in the 2040s, LIFE could confirm the presence of methyl halides on distant worlds in under a day.
“If we start detecting these gases on multiple planets, it would suggest that microbial life is common in the universe,” Leung said. “That would completely reshape our understanding of how life begins and spreads.”
The researchers plan to continue their work by studying other planetary environments and gas emissions, including those from extreme regions on Earth like the Salton Sea, which emits halogenated gases such as chloroform.
While direct sampling of exoplanet atmospheres remains a distant goal, advances in astronomy and telescope technology may one day bring us closer to answering the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe?
“We’re not going to visit an exoplanet anytime soon,” Schwieterman said. “But learning what to look for, and where to look, is the first step in the search for extraterrestrial life.”
Nebitno
