Researchers have identified a statistical signature in organic molecules that distinguishes biological from nonbiological chemistry, offering a new tool for detecting extraterrestrial life. The approach analyzes the distribution of amino acids and fatty acids without needing specialized instruments. It could apply to data from ongoing and future space missions.
A study published in Nature Astronomy shows that living systems produce distinct organizational patterns in certain molecules. Amino acids from biological sources tend to be more varied and evenly distributed, while fatty acids from nonliving processes show greater uniformity. Scientists adapted statistical methods from ecology to measure richness and evenness in these compounds across nearly 100 datasets from microbes, meteorites, fossils, and lab samples.