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Applying novel techniques from physical and biological sciences to life detection - EurekAlert

To understand how life emerged on Earth, interdisciplinary research is essential, as the emergence of life relied on many physical, chemical, and biological processes. One important aspect of understanding the origins of life focuses on the potential emergence and existence of extraterrestrial life. The techniques for unambiguous detection of extraterrestrial life, widely known as life detection techniques, are drawn from various fields allowing for a wide suite of analytical technologies whose applications are normally limited to only a few scientific disciplines, such as spectrometers for detecting chemical biosignatures, microscopy-based imaging for visualizing in situ biosignatures, and sequencing/bioinformatics methods for studying genetic biosignatures. Life detection technologies are thus inspired by such proven analytical technologies taken from various scientific disciplines, and the rich diversity and breadth of potential life detection technologies can only be enhanced by further exploration of available and proven technologies in all astrobiology-related fields. In a review article recently published in Space: Science & Technology, young scientists from Blue Marble Space Institute of Science explore three categories of technologies, analyses, or ideas from physical and biological sciences that either have potential to be applied as novel life detection technologies or are in their infancy in application to life detection technology and should be developed further. This review, which is a culmination of the 2021 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (BMSIS) Young Scientist Program (YSP) and features sections contributed by undergraduate student summer interns under the supervision of three active astrobiologist mentors, is intended to inspire researchers working on life detection research to incorporate more potential technologies.

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