Clouds could help reveal life on distant planets, not hide it — thanks to a color code for atmospheric microbes, according to the Cornell Chronicle.
Cornell researchers built the first reflectance spectra for Earth’s colorful airborne bacteria, offering a new tool to detect biopigments in exoplanet atmospheres. These pigments help microbes survive harsh conditions and could act as biosignatures, even through dense cloud cover.
The findings reshape how we search for life beyond Earth and are already influencing the design of next-gen telescopes like NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory and Europe’s Extremely Large Telescope.
Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad).
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].