‘Life on Hycean Worlds’: Strange gases may be the clues on alien life we have missed
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Alien Clues
Scientists have identified methyl halides—gases made by Earth microbes—as possible signs of alien life on distant worlds unlike Earth.
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Life’s Signature
Produced by bacteria, algae, and fungi on Earth, methyl halides could indicate microbial life thriving in exotic, hydrogen-rich atmospheres.
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Hycean Worlds
Forget Earth-like planets—researchers now target Hycean planets: hot, ocean-covered worlds with thick hydrogen skies, perfect for detecting life gases.
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Fast Detection
Unlike oxygen or methane, methyl halides could be detected in just 13 hours with the James Webb Space Telescope—faster and cheaper to find.
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JWST Ready
NASA’s James Webb Telescope can start searching now, using its infrared capabilities to spot these gases in faraway planet atmospheres.
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Survival Signals
If found, these gases would suggest anaerobic life, adapted to alien environments we can barely imagine—microbes thriving in hydrogen-rich seas.
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Beyond Earth
Unlike Earth’s thin air, Hycean planets’ dense atmospheres could trap and amplify methyl halides, making them easier to detect from light-years away.
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Life Beyond
“If we find methyl halides on multiple planets, it could mean life is common in the universe,” says lead scientist Michaela Leung, reshaping our cosmic perspective.
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Future Telescopes
While James Webb leads now, future missions like Europe’s LIFE telescope could confirm such biosignatures in under a day—changing the search for life forever.
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