New Method to Detect Tiny Extraterrestrial Life

Rovers sent to Mars have so far failed to detect life, likely because it doesn’t exist on the Red Planet. However, the search must continue, using ever-evolving techniques, including a novel approach from a team of scientists.

A Study on Chemotaxis

A recent study published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences has shown that three species of microbes are attracted to and move towards an amino acid called L-serine. This process, known as chemotaxis, is an organism’s movement in response to a chemical, and could be the basis for a simple new approach in our search for tiny extraterrestrial life in places such as Mars.

The Presence of L-Serine on Mars

Given that early Earth and Mars were bombarded by carbonaceous asteroids, L-serine likely exists on Mars. Previous research has already shown that L-serine invokes chemotaxis in some life forms. If life developed on Mars with a similar biochemistry to known life on Earth, it seems plausible that L-serine could also be a potent chemoattractant for hypothetical Martian microbes.

Hypothetical Martian Microbes

Due to the exceptionally harsh conditions at the Martian surface, the researchers used "hypothetical Martian microbes" known for surviving harsh conditions, often called extremophiles. Their stand-ins included the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, as well as the archaea Haloferax volcanii.

The Importance of Motility

Bacteria and archaea are two of the oldest forms of life on Earth, but they move in different ways and evolved motility systems independently from each other. By testing both groups, the researchers can make life detection methods more reliable for space missions.

A Simple and Affordable Method

The researchers used a slide (a flat piece of glass) separated into two chambers by a thin membrane. They put the microbes in one chamber, L-serine in the other, and waited. If the microbes are alive and able to move, they swim towards the L-serine through the membrane. Fortunately, that’s exactly what happened, suggesting that future astronauts could use this method to identify the presence of similar microorganisms in extraterrestrial samples.

The Potential of Chemotaxis

The study highlights the potential of a cheaper and simpler way to search for extraterrestrial life based on inducing microbial movement. While real-life applications of this method on future space missions would require an automatic system with smaller and stronger equipment, the study still demonstrates the feasibility of a novel approach in our search for alien civilizations.

A New Approach to the Search for Life

The researchers’ approach is easy, affordable, and doesn’t require powerful computers to analyze the results. This method could be a game-changer in our search for extraterrestrial life, and could potentially be used in future space missions to identify the presence of similar microorganisms in extraterrestrial samples.

Conclusion

The study on chemotaxis and its potential application in the search for extraterrestrial life is an exciting development in the field of astrobiology. While there is still much to be learned, this novel approach highlights the potential for a cheaper and simpler way to search for life beyond Earth.