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Exoplanet biosignatures : a review of remotely detectable signs of life

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Date
04/05/2018
Author
Schwieterman, Edward W.
Kiang, Nancy Y.
Parenteau, Mary N.
Harman, Chester E.
DasSarma, Shiladitya
Fisher, Theresa M.
Arney, Giada N.
Hartnett, Hilairy E.
Reinhard, Christopher T.
Olson, Stephanie L.
Meadows, Victoria S.
Cockell, Charles S.
Walker, Sara I.
Grenfell, John Lee
Hegde, Siddharth
Rugheimer, Sarah
Hu, Renyu
Lyons, Timothy W.
Keywords
Exoplanets
Biosignatures
Habitability markers
Photosynthesis
Planetary surfaces
Atmospheres
Spectroscopy
Cryptic biospheres
False positives
QB Astronomy
QH301 Biology
Metadata
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Abstract
In the coming years and decades, advanced space- and ground-based observatories will allow an unprecedented opportunity to probe the atmospheres and surfaces of potentially habitable exoplanets for signatures of life. Life on Earth, through its gaseous products and reflectance and scattering properties, has left its fingerprint on the spectrum of our planet. Aided by the universality of the laws of physics and chemistry, we turn to Earth's biosphere, both in the present and through geologic time, for analog signatures that will aid in the search for life elsewhere. Considering the insights gained from modern and ancient Earth, and the broader array of hypothetical exoplanet possibilities, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of potential exoplanet biosignatures, including gaseous, surface, and temporal biosignatures. We additionally survey biogenic spectral features that are well known in the specialist literature but have not yet been robustly vetted in the context of exoplanet biosignatures. We briefly review advances in assessing biosignature plausibility, including novel methods for determining chemical disequilibrium from remotely obtainable data and assessment tools for determining the minimum biomass required to maintain short-lived biogenic gases as atmospheric signatures. We focus particularly on advances made since the seminal review by Des Marais et al. The purpose of this work is not to propose new biosignature strategies, a goal left to companion articles in this series, but to review the current literature, draw meaningful connections between seemingly disparate areas, and clear the way for a path forward.
Citation
Schwieterman , E W , Kiang , N Y , Parenteau , M N , Harman , C E , DasSarma , S , Fisher , T M , Arney , G N , Hartnett , H E , Reinhard , C T , Olson , S L , Meadows , V S , Cockell , C S , Walker , S I , Grenfell , J L , Hegde , S , Rugheimer , S , Hu , R & Lyons , T W 2018 , ' Exoplanet biosignatures : a review of remotely detectable signs of life ' , Astrobiology , vol. First Online . https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2017.1729
Publication
Astrobiology
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2017.1729
ISSN
1531-1074
Type
Journal item
Rights
© Edward W. Schwieterman et al., 2018; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/13424

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