How Can Catalysis Inform the Search for Extraterrestrial Life?
When searching for life on other planets or moons, scientists look for biosignatures, which are indicators of life such as specific organic molecules. Understanding catalytic processes can help identify these biosignatures. For example, the detection of certain gases like methane in the atmosphere of planets like Mars or moons like Enceladus might indicate microbial life, as methane can be produced by catalytic reactions in biological systems.
