Alien life on exoplanets is in the news after possible biosignatures were found on K2-18b, 124 light-years away. The gas dimethyl disulfide hints at life, but it’s not proof.

A new coronagraph design could boost the search for alien microbes by improving exoplanet atmosphere analysis. Detecting life through atmospheric chemistry will likely be how we first confirm it.

There are several space telescopes from ESA, NASA and China due for launch in the next ten years that will improve on current abilities. However, it’s possible definitive proof may even come before then with current space telescopes.

The James Webb Space Telescope detected the dimethyl disulfide on K2-18b, and it is lined up to look at other alien-life candidate exoplanets in the coming months and years.