Signs of life: New field guide aids astronomers' search

Zifan Lin has developed high-resolution spectral models and scenarios for two exoplanets that may harbor life: Proxima b, in the habitable zone of our nearest neighbor Proxima Centauri; and Trappist-1e, one of three possible Earth-like exoplanet candidates in the Trappist-1 system.

The paper, co-authored with Lisa Kaltenegger, associate professor of astronomy and director of Cornell's Carl Sagan Institute, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

"In order to investigate whether there are signs of life on other worlds, it is very important to understand signs of life that show in a planet's light fingerprint," Lin said. "Life on exoplanets can produce a characteristic combination of molecules in its atmosphere -- and those become telltale signs in the spectra of such planets.

"In the near future we will be seeing the atmosphere of these worlds with new, sophisticated ground-based telescopes, which will allow us to explore the exoplanet's climate and might spot its biota," he said.

In the search for habitable worlds, "M dwarf" stars catch astronomers' eyes, since the local universe teems with these suns, which make up 75% of the nearby cosmos, according to Lin.

Throughout the Milky Way, our home galaxy, astronomers have discovered more than 4,000 exoplanets, some in their own suns' habitable zone -- an area that provides conditions suitable for life.

To explore the atmosphere of these places, scientists need large next-generation telescopes, such as the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which is currently under construction in northern Chile's Atacama Desert and expected to be operational in 2025. Scientists can aim the mammoth eyepiece -- with a flawless primary mirror about half the size of a football field -- at Proxima b and Trappist-1e. The future telescope will have more than 250 times the light-gathering power of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Lin and Kaltenegger said the high-resolution spectrographs from the ELT can discern water, methane and oxygen for both Proxima b and Trappist-1e, if these planets are like our own pale blue dot.

"Zifan has generated a database of light fingerprints for these worlds, a guide to allow observers to learn how to find signs of life, if they are there," Kaltenegger said. "We are providing a template on how to find life on these worlds, if it exists."