Agnostic Biosignatures Suggest Life Could Be Detected Across Multiple Planets

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:26:00 +0200

Researchers from the Earth-Life Science Institute at the Institute of Science Tokyo and the National Institute for Basic Biology have proposed a novel approach to detecting extraterrestrial life. Rather than searching for conventional biosignatures on individual planets, which can produce ambiguous results, the team suggests analyzing patterns across multiple planets to infer the presence of life. This 'agnostic biosignature' approach assumes that life can spread between planets, for instance via panspermia, and that it modifies the environments it inhabits. Using agent-based simulations, the study found that life could generate statistical links between planetary features and locations, creating detectable patterns even if no single planet shows clear signs of biology. This method prioritizes reducing false positives over exhaustive detection, which is practical for targeting limited telescope time. The approach may help identify clusters of planets more likely influenced by biologica