A recent study suggests that the “light fingerprint” of life on other planets might be purple rather than green.

Some microbes on Earth are purple, but in our oxygen-rich environment, green life prevails in most ecosystems. Researchers from Cornell University say that life elsewhere may likely make energy with different types of light from the sun, and use compounds with purple pigments rather than green.

About 2.4 billion years ago, cyanobacteria, the first-known photosynthesizing species, began harnessing sunlight using chlorophyll. Before this, microorganisms relied on a purple-pigment molecule called retinal for energy production. This molecule, if present on other planets, could leave a unique signature detectable by advanced telescopes.

Scientists selected over 20 purple-coloured bacteria from different ecosystems, measuring their vibrant pigments and how they give off light. Then, they simulated the “light signatures” — the unique colour and chemical fingerprints that would be visible in an alien planet’s reflected light — and found these purple bacteria would generate vivid, identifiable signatures.

Space observatories could look for these signs of purple life when observing exoplanets — distant planets beyond the sun. Upcoming powerful telescopes, such as the Extremely Large Telescope and the Habitable Worlds Observatory, will look into the atmospheres of such far-off worlds to determine their composition and habitability.

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The bacterial species, Exiguobacterium sibiricum strain DR11 and Exiguobacterium undae strain DR14, were isolated from the wetlands adjoining the University. Upon coming into contact with the polystyrene, the bacteria strains use it as a carbon source to create biofilms — an assemblage of bacterial cells which grow as communities — allowing for targeted action of enzymes that alter the physical properties of polystyrene and initiate natural degradation.

India consumes about 16.5 million metric tonnes of plastic annually. Of the 300 million tonnes of plastic discarded every year, only about 10 per cent gets recycled. Researchers note that the use of both indigenous and genetically-modified bacteria could lead to eco-friendly, alternative clean-up methods for plastic waste.

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The enzyme, NicA2, is found in the bacteria Pseudomonas putida. The bacterium depends on nicotine found in soil in tobacco fields as its only source of the carbon and nitrogen it needs to live. By consuming nicotine in a smoker’s system before it reaches the brain and delivers its desired “reward”, the enzyme could offer significant improvement over existing smoking cessation options such as gum, patches and pills.

In an experiment, researchers added nicotine to a blood sample at a level corresponding to smoking one cigarette, then added the NicA2 enzyme. The half-life of the nicotine — a measure of how long it remains active in the blood — reduced from 2-3 hours to 9-15 minutes. Higher doses, along with chemical alterations, could bring an even faster reduction, perhaps keeping nicotine in the blood from ever reaching the brain. When this happens, smokers will no longer feel the pleasure highs associated with smoking, pushing them to quit the activity.

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