Atmospheric Disequilibrium (IMAGE)

University of Washington

Atmospheric Disequilibrium

Caption

Future telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (right) will observe the atmospheres of distant planets to seek evidence of life. Earth (top left) has several gases in its atmosphere that reveal the presence of life, primarily oxygen and ozone. The new study finds that for the early Earth (bottom left), the combination of abundant methane and carbon dioxide would provide an alternative sign of life.

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NASA/Wikimedia Commons/Joshua Krissansen-Totton

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