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Along with exploring asteroids and other planets and phenomena in space, scientists are also looking for possible signs of life. In an effort to ultimately answer the question of whether or not we are alone in the universe, a group of experts claim to have developed the technology that could potentially help spot the presence of aliens in space.
A group of researchers recently claimed to have developed a kind of alien life-spotting device called the automated microchip electrophoresis analyzer. With this technology, they believe could be able to detect alien bio-signatures on the surfaces of other planets or meteors. This revelation comes after the discovery of a kind of gas called phosphine in the atmospheres of Venus. Phosphine is thought to be an indicator of alien life.
The general method of detecting alien life on the surfaces of other planets or celestial objects is by searching for a certain group of elements, thought to be the fundamental building blocks of life. This newly-developed device contains two microchips, one chip functioning to identify a liquid sample while the other chip will function in separating compounds from each other.
The researchers first tested this device on the Chilean desert, simulating a Mars mission. They included an analyzer to the water extractor of a remote-controlled rover based on NASA’s Curiosity Rover. The rover then drilled into the soil to collect samples which were sent to the extractor to be analyzed. Water was later added to the samples, then heat to extract the compounds. As a result, the machine was able to detect parts for every billion levels of amino acids in the soil from three of the four experiments they conducted.
Previously, another group of scientists were able to make a breakthrough as well. Researchers from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom proposed a method called high-resolution electroscopy to be able to detect the presence of a fundamental element for life; water, or water vapors in the clouds of alien planets. This method was proposed following the challenge presented by clouds that may be present in exoplanets that keep probes or telescopes from looking past its atmospheres.
