Finding life in outer space is one of the great endeavors of humankind. One approach is to find motile microorganisms that can move independently, an ability that is a solid hint for life. If movement is induced by a chemical and an organism moves in response, it is known as chemotaxis.

Finding life in outer space is one of the great endeavors of humankind. One approach is to find motile microorganisms that can move independently, an ability that is a solid hint for life. If movement is induced by a chemical and an organism moves in response, it is known as chemotaxis.

Now, researchers in Germany have developed a new and simplified method for inducing chemotactic motility in some of Earth’s smallest life forms.

Source:

Application of chemotactic behavior for life detection

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1490090/full