A group of scientists from Germany has developed a new method that could help in the search for life on other planets, in particular, on Mars. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. Finding life on another planet is a challenging task. NASA’s current Mars rovers are equipped to search for traces of life in soil and rock samples. However, as Belinda Ferrari, a professor of microbiology at UNSW in Sydney, points out, current technology is not always up to the task. “Current equipment cannot effectively detect life on Mars, especially in low-biomass samples,” she says. Highly sensitive laboratory methods such as gene sequencing and microscopic analysis often require sophisticated equipment that is not always available in the field. In a new study, the researchers propose an alternative approach based on chemotaxis — the directed movement of microbes toward chemicals. This movement is different from random Brownian motion, making it an important indicator of life. “Microbial motility may be a universal feature of life, making this method useful for searching for life in resource-poor environments,” the team explains. In the experiment, the researchers tested three types of microbes: Bacillus subtilis, Pseudoalteromonas haloplanctis, and Haloferax volcanii. All showed chemotaxis to the chemical L-serine, indicating its potential as an indicator of life. “These microbes were selected for their resistance to extreme conditions similar to those on Mars,” says researcher Max Riekeles of the Technical University of Berlin. For example, B. subtilis can withstand temperatures up to 100°C, while H. volcanii thrives in highly saline environments. The team used glass slides with two chambers separated by a membrane to simplify the process. The sample was placed in one chamber and L-serine in the other. “If the microbes are alive and moving, they swim up to the L-serine through the membrane,” Riekeles explains. This method does not require complex equipment and can be implemented with minimal costs. Despite its promising results, scientists still have a number of challenges to overcome before the method can be used on other planets. “This approach could significantly speed up and reduce the cost of searching for life, which would be useful for future missions,” Riekeles adds. The post Scientists have developed a new test that can detect life on other planets appeared first on Anomalien.com.