Alien pollution existence

Alien pollution in space may reveal existence of other life in universe, astrophysicists say.

Earthlings often wonder if life exists on other planets, and US researchers say hunting for traces of pollution from distant worlds could provide the answer.

Under certain conditions, astronomers in the next decade might be able to detect the presence of an industrialised alien society, according to a study by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Already, astronomers can study the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system for the presence of oxygen and methane, which could be produced by intelligent life or by microbes.

But an extraterrestrial civilisation might also spew chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere, much the same way we do on Earth, the study said.

original post found herhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-24/alien-pollution-may-reveal-if-we-are-alone-in-universe/5619522