Presence Of Oxygen Might Not Indicate Life On Alien Planets: Here's Why

What is the one most important scientists look for to ascertain scope of life on an alien planet? Yes, it's oxygen! And while oxygen may be intrinsic to human survival, it appears that oxygen might not be the best sign of life on other planets.

Oxygen on Earth is produced after organisms absorb carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water to create sugars and starches for energy. Oxygen is just a byproduct, but without it, none of us would be breathing comfortably.

Oxygen may be perceived as indication of life in an exoplanet's atmosphere, but that's only if we're able to completely rule out other pathways that created oxygen, scientists claim.

Based on what we know about Earth, the discovery of oxygen in an exoplanet's atmosphere would imply that organisms on the planet might be at work. This doesn't mean that life has to be as sophisticated as human beings, oxygen could be getting produced by simpler life.

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Why oxygen might not mean life

A new research titled "Abiotic molecular oxygen production¡ªIonic pathway from sulfur dioxide" published in Science Advances paints a new picture. Researchers claim to have found an abiotic source of oxygen - stemming from sulphur dioxide.

Also read: NASA's Tiny Device On Mars Is Currently Generating As Much Oxygen As A Tree

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Sulphur is not uncommon for planets, and volcanoes produce sulphur and then release it into the atmosphere. This means that many volcanic exoplanets might have oxygen in their atmospheres. But this might or might not involve life.

Chemical processes on many planets may be creating molecular oxygen without involving lifeforms - the same kind of oxygen that's vital to life on Earth. This might help explain the presence of oxygen on Io, Ganymede, and even Europa.

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Also read: Researchers Have Generated Oxygen From Magnets To Aid Long-Term Space Exploration

What does this research imply? Quite simply, that, oxygen might not be the ideal sign of life on other planets. In fact, it could only represent the chemical complexity of such planets.

What do you think about this fresh research? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Today, U. (2022, October 19). Oxygen Might Not Be an Ideal Sign of Life on Other Planets After All?: ScienceAlert. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.sciencealert.com/oxygen-might-not-be-an-ideal-sign-of-life-on-other-planets-after-all