# A Dream of Discovering Alien Life Finds New Hope  ## About - Author: Joshua Sokol - Title: A Dream of Discovering Alien Life Finds New Hope - Tags: #articles #science - URL: https://www.quantamagazine.org/alien-life-a-dream-of-discovery-finds-new-hope-20221103/ ## Highlights Over the next few years, the enormous space telescope will closely scrutinize a handful of rocky worlds that are regarded as most likely to be habitable, probably including the new SPECULOOS-2c. At minimum, JWST’s studies should discern whether these planets have atmospheres; they might also show that some are dripping with liquid water. Most optimistically — if biospheres bloom easily from Earth-like worlds — the telescope may detect odd ratios of, say, carbon dioxide, oxygen and methane on one of these planets. Astronomers may then be sorely tempted to attribute the concoction to the presence of an extraterrestrial ecosystem. --- On Earth, biofluorescent organisms like corals protect themselves from ultraviolet light by absorbing it and re-emitting it as visible light. ---