somewhat soon , we ’re in all probability going to start flat search for life on nearby worlds like Mars , and mayhap Europa . The only job is , we do n’t have a estimable room of actually detecting life .
That could all be set to change though , thanks to a raw technique design by researchers at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California ( JPL ) . It ’s called “ hairlike electrophoresis ” , according to NASA , and essentially involves looking for amino pane , which are the structural construction blocks of all life on Earth .
This new method is supposedly 10,000 times more effective that methods currently used on political machine like NASA ’s Curiosity rover , specifically the rover’sSample Analysis at Mars(SAM ) instrument . The research was published inAnalytical Chemistry .
" Our method improves on late attempts by increase the number of aminic pane that can be notice in a single run , " lead source Jessica Creamer , a postdoctoral scholar at JPL , say in astatement . " to boot , it allows us to detect these amino acids at very dispirited tightness , even in highly salty sampling , with a very simple-minded ' mix and analyze ' process . "
Interestingly , the method would even be useful for looking for life on ocean worlds like Europa . A laser would be beam on a fluent sample distribution , reserve specific corpuscle to be note and furcate using electric fields .
To test out the method acting , the investigator used samples from Mono Lake in California . The lake has a high alkaline mental object , making it tricksy for life to constitute in , acting as a unspoilt analog to the supposed salty water on Mars and Europa . The team was able to examine 17 different amino group window pane , know as “ the theme song 17 monetary standard ” , and work out which ace were coming from living being .
In fact , the samples did not even need much preparation beforehand , think it might not be too hard to retroflex the procedure on another world . Three biosignatures were detected , which are thought to be a secure indicator that life is present .
“ These data point clearly instance how the methods and biosignature radiation diagram described here could be used to identify the presence of life on a wandering delegation , ” the newspaper concluded . “ These outcome highlight the pertinency of the protocols draw here for the detection of amino group acid biosignatures in piquant samples during potential deputation to Europa or Enceladus , two prime destinations in the search for life story beyond Earth . ”
