Researchers suggest that alien life could be present in gases, with a focus on a hypothetical Hycean world where methyl halide gases may be detectable in the atmosphere. The gases, typically produced by organisms like bacteria and fungi on Earth, consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms paired with a halogen atom. Unlike Earth-like planets, which are challenging to observe for biosignatures, Hycean planets offer a clearer signal. These potential extraterrestrial microbes, likely anaerobic and adapted to unique environments, could produce these gases as metabolic byproducts. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, examines the detectability of methyl halide accumulation in Hycean-type atmospheres, highlighting the potential for future exploration using technology like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
