Italian researchers have developed a radically new approach to the search for extraterrestrial life. Scientists Giovanni Covone and Donato Giovanni from the University of Naples have proposed supplementing the traditional criteria for searching for habitable planets with an analysis of so-called “biometals” – transition metals that are critical for biological processes.
In their work, published in The Open Journal of Astrophysics, they emphasize that elements such as iron, nickel and copper play a key role in oxidation-reduction reactions necessary for the production of energy by living organisms. Without these metals, the effective functioning of enzymes and the maintenance of vital functions are impossible.
According to the scientists, it was the presence of transition metals that became the decisive factor in the evolution of the Earth’s biosphere. Thus, the “Great Oxygen Event” about 2.3 billion years ago is associated with the availability of copper, which allowed living organisms to switch to aerobic respiration and eventually led to the emergence of animals.
Until now, astrobiology has focused on three key factors: energy, liquid water, and CHNOPS elements (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur). However, these substances are common in the Galaxy, while biometals are much less common and can be a real limiting factor for the emergence of life.
The authors believe that future space missions, including the European PLATO project, should take into account not only traditional criteria, but also the presence of biometals when choosing planets for detailed observations. Such an approach will improve the efficiency of the search and get closer to answering the question of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations.
