New telescopes will search for signs of life on distant planets

Atmosphere of a world in another solar system might reveal hints of alien biological activity

illustration of current and future exoplanet telescopes

PUTTING EYES ON EXOPLANETS  A suite of current and future telescopes (including, from left, Spitzer, TESS, Hubble, James Webb and WFIRST-AFTA) could identify remote habitable worlds and peer into the newfound atmospheres for hints of alien biology. 

David Curtis

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Our galaxy is teeming with planets.