Scientists have discovered that alien existence could be hiding in gases on distant planets.
New research suggests extraterrestrial beings might exist in gases called methyl halides on faraway worlds.
Researchers believe this approach could provide a relatively quick and easy way to examine potential signs of life beyond Earth.
On Earth, methyl halides are typically produced by bacteria and fungi.
Scientists have discovered that alien existence could be hiding in gases on distant planets (stock image)
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These gases consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms attached to a halogen atom.
Scientists believe they could be detected on distant planets using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
"These gases are a plausible output from their metabolism," said Eddie Schwieterman, University of California Riverside astrobiologist and paper co-author.
While Earth-like planets are too small and dim for the Webb telescope to detect these gases, researchers suggest Hycean planets offer better opportunities.
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"Unlike an Earth-like planet, where atmospheric noise and telescope limitations make it difficult to detect biosignatures, Hycean planets offer a much clearer signal," explained Schwieterman.
These Hycean worlds could be ideal locations to search for signs of extraterrestrial life.
Scientists don't know what these potential alien life forms might look like.
"These microbes, if we found them, would be anaerobic. They'd be adapted to a very different type of environment, and we can't really conceive of what that looks like," said Schwieterman.
New research suggests extraterrestrial beings might exist in gases called methyl halides on faraway worlds (stock image)
GettyThese organisms would have evolved to survive without oxygen in environments vastly different from Earth.
The research is detailed in a new paper titled 'Examining the Potential for Methyl Halide Accumulation and Detectability in Possible Hycean-type Atmospheres'.
The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
