Mission
The search for life elsewhere is one of the most fundamental quests in the history of our species.
Traditionally, the search for life beyond the solar system had been focused primarily on Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. Theoretical studies show that a wide diversity of planets, some very different from Earth, may be capable of hosting at least simple microbial life. The recently theorised ‘hycean worlds’ are expected to be both conducive for habitable conditions and accessible to atmospheric observations with current and upcoming large telescopes.
These habitable ocean worlds with hydrogen-rich atmospheres offer the best chance for detecting possible biosignatures in their atmospheres with existing facilities, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This hycean paradigm promises a transformational opportunity in the search for life elsewhere within the current generation.
Our mission is to advance the search for life elsewhere through the exploration of hycean worlds — a unique planetary class with no analogs in our solar system. Our team has made important contributions to this frontier, from the conception of hycean worlds and key theoretical insights into their atmospheres and interiors, to discovering the first evidence of carbon-bearing molecules and a possible biosignature in a candidate hycean world. Using state-of-the-art astronomical observations, atmospheric retrieval techniques, and theoretical methods, our research focuses on a comprehensive and holistic understanding of these planets to robustly establish their potential for hosting habitable conditions and detect signatures of life if present.
This is a momentous occasion in the history of our species. This is the closest we have ever come to detecting chemical signatures of potentially habitable planets beyond the solar system. While the detection of life elsewhere will be a transformational moment in modern science, every step of the process involves new insights into this uncharted territory. The goal of this portal is to share our insights and discoveries in this quest with the wider scientific community and society around the world. We invite you to be a part of our common quest as humans to answer the age-old question: “Are we alone in the universe?”
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