Planets that look alike might be a sign of spacefaring aliens.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Wilkins, Alex
- Source
- New Scientist. 4/20/2024, Vol. 262 Issue 3487, p18-18. 5/7p. 1 Color Photograph.
- Subject
- *EXTRATERRESTRIAL beings
*PLANETS
*EXTRATERRESTRIAL life
*UNIDENTIFIED flying objects
- Language
- ISSN
- 0262-4079
A recent study suggests that planets in neighboring star systems that look similar to each other could be a sign of alien life that has traveled between stars. Traditional methods of searching for extraterrestrial life rely on specific signals, such as molecules produced by biological processes or abnormal patterns of light. However, this approach may overlook signals from alien life forms that are different from life on Earth. The study proposes a new biosignature that looks for similarities between planets that may have been colonized by life. While the study explores interesting possibilities, some experts caution that these mechanisms may not be possible and that better telescopes are needed to detect molecules in exoplanet atmospheres for further analysis. [Extracted from the article]