Finding Aliens: Is There Microbial Life Beyond Earth? What Have We Found So Far? Explained

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 14:32 IST

Finding aliens: Astrobiologists say we could find evidence of microbial life within the next 10–20 years. What does that mean? Where are we looking? Projects, chronology, explained

Amid the remark by former US President Barack Obama on aliens and President Donald Trump’s promise of releasing files on the subject, the real question is — how close are we to finding aliens or microbial life?

Many astrobiologists believe we could find evidence of microbial life within the next 10–20 years — not intelligent aliens, but chemical or fossil signs of simple organisms.

What exactly does microbial life mean?

Biosignatures are chemical, geological, or atmospheric patterns that are very hard to explain without biology. Scientists are looking for four main categories:

1. Chemical Biosignatures: Certain molecules are strongly associated with life. For example, methane and oxygen together in an atmosphere. They destroy each other chemically, so both existing together suggests constant replenishment — possibly life. Phosphine in oxidizing atmospheres (controversial example on Venus in 2020). Or even complex organic molecules with biological patterns. These wouldn’t prove life instantly — but they’d trigger massive scrutiny.

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2. Isotope Ratios: Life prefers lighter isotopes (like carbon-12 over carbon-13). On Earth, this leaves a chemical fingerprint in rocks. If Martian samples show similar fractionation patterns, that would be powerful evidence.

3. Microfossils: Tiny structures preserved in rock that resemble fossilized bacteria. This was claimed in 1996 in a Martian meteorite studied by NASA scientists — but the claim didn’t hold up under scrutiny. Future Mars samples returned to Earth could be examined with far more advanced tools.

4. Atmospheric Disequilibrium on Exoplanets: The NASA-led James Webb Space Telescope can analyze exoplanet atmospheres. Scientists look for oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide and water vapour.

A strong detection wouldn’t means we found aliens, but it could be the strongest evidence yet of biological activity beyond Earth."

Where are we looking?

But so far, we have no confirmed detection of life — only intriguing clues.

What have we found so far?

A look at the journey:

1976 – Viking Mars Landers

Organisation: NASA

The Viking 1 and 2 landers performed the first life-detection experiments on Mars.

One test hinted at possible biological activity.

Follow-up analysis suggested the reactions were likely chemical, not biological.

1996 – Martian Meteorite ALH84001

Organizations: NASA & Johnson Space Center

Scientists announced possible fossilized microbes in a meteorite from Mars.

Later studies showed the structures could form without life.

2015 – Liquid Water on Mars

Organisation: NASA

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found evidence of seasonal briny water flows.

Water is key for life.

Later data (2020) suggested dry salts might explain the streaks instead.

2018 – Organic Molecules on Mars

Organisation: NASA (Curiosity Rover)

Discovered complex organic molecules in Martian rocks.

Organics are building blocks of life — but can form without biology.

2019 – Methane Spikes on Mars

Organisation: NASA

Curiosity detected seasonal methane fluctuations.

On Earth, most methane is biological.

But methane can also be produced geologically.

2020 – Possible Phosphine on Venus

Organisations: Cardiff University & European Southern Observatory

Researchers reported phosphine gas in Venus’ atmosphere — a potential biosignature.

Follow-up studies challenged the findings.

2022 – James Webb Telescope Studies Exoplanet Atmospheres

Organisation: NASA (with ESA & CSA)

The James Webb Space Telescope began analyzing atmospheres of distant planets.

It can detect gases like methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor — possible biosignatures.

No confirmed life signals yet.

2023 – Stronger Evidence of Ocean on Enceladus

Organisation: NASA

Data from Cassini revealed phosphorus in plumes from Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Phosphorus is essential for DNA.

Enceladus now considered one of the best places to search.

Why the next 10–20 years matter

Mars Sample Return (Late 2020s–2030s): Planned by NASA and European Space Agency, this mission aims to bring Martian rock cores collected by Perseverance back to Earth in the 2030s. It will study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa and look for chemical signatures of life in its subsurface ocean.

Earth labs are vastly more precise than rover instruments. We can test for microfossils, isotopes, organic chemistry at nanoscales. This is our best near-term shot at confirming past life.

Ocean Worlds Exploration: Icy moons are strong candidates. Europa Clipper (launched 2024) will analyze Europa’s chemistry. Past data from Cassini (a NASA mission) found phosphorus and organic molecules in plumes from Enceladus. These moons have liquid water, energy sources and organic chemistry.

Upcoming observatories in the 2030s (NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory concept, ESA’s Extremely Large Telescope) are designed specifically to detect biosignatures in Earth-sized exoplanets.

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ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover (ESA), expected to launch around 2028, is designed to drill 2 metres into the Martian surface to search for past or present microbial activity protected from harsh surface radiation.

Dragonfly (NASA), slated for 2027-2028, this rotorcraft will explore Saturn’s moon Titan. It will study prebiotic chemistry and search for chemical signatures that could hint at exotic forms of life in Titan’s methane lakes.

For the first time in history, we have tools built specifically to find life. Scientists will have to rule out geological processes, atmospheric chemistry quirks, instrument errors and contamination, which take time.

Other projects

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) focuses on finding evidence of advanced technology. For decades, projects have scanned the skies for narrow-band radio signals, such as the famous Wow! signal detected in 1977. Modern research also looks for “ruins" or megastructures, like Dyson spheres, which an advanced civilisation might build to harvest energy from a star. The Galileo Project, led by Harvard’s Avi Loeb, uses observatories to search for extraterrestrial technological artifacts near Earth.

Researchers also use mathematical models and surveys to estimate the likelihood of contact. For instance, tje Drake Equation, a probabilistic argument used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way, or the Fermi Paradox, which addresses the contradiction between the high probability of alien life and the lack of evidence or contact.

A 2024 survey by Durham University found that over 86% of astrobiologists believe basic extraterrestrial life likely exists, while about 58% believe intelligent life exists.

While distinct from traditional astrobiology, government agencies have investigated Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). The Department of Defense and other agencies have released reports on sightings that remain unidentifiable, though no concrete evidence has yet linked them to extraterrestrial visitors.

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