Sulfur
or sulfur gas molecules could be a marker of the existence of aliens or
at least microbial life. Thus disclosed Renyu Hu, a doctoral student at
MIT planetary science, in American Astronomical Society Meeting in
Boston. The opinion is based on the fact that there is a sulfur-based
life on Earth.
Known, many microbes use sulfur compounds to produce energy, just like the way humans generate energy with the aid of oxygen.
Hu made the simulation in order
to convince people of his opinion. He made a model of the planet in the
habitable zone in the Sun-like star system. The planet was rich in
nitrogen like Earth, but it has a sulfur content of 1,000 times greater
than Earth.
According to Hu, sulfur-based
life in the planet's surface removing residual hydrogen sulfide gas
(H2S). "Hydrogen sulfide from the surface have a huge impact on the
atmospheric composition of a planet," said Hu was quoted as saying
Physorg.
If a planet's atmosphere has a
high content of H2S, then maybe the planet has a life. H2S is difficult
to be detected by astronomers. However, excess H2S resulted in many
sulfur aerosols that can be detected with infrared or visible light.
Although Hu's reasonable opinion,
the fact remains that until now have not found extra-solar planets (in
the outer solar system) are inhabited star system similar to the Sun.
Thus, Hu's opinion still needs to be studied.
Hu himself warned that the sulfur
is not necessarily a sign of life. It could be the sulfur is a result
of volcanic activity on a particular planet. "We still have to
thoroughly examine this assumption," said Hu.
According to Hu, H2S is also not
the only gas that could be a sign of life. "We want to see as much as
possible the existing gas in Earth's atmosphere and assess whether the
gas could be a marker of life," Hu explained. Hu do the experiment this
time with his partner, Sara Seager and William Baines.
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