How do we search for signs of life on exoplanets?

Searching for signs of life on exoplanets is a complex and ongoing process that involves a variety of techniques and methods. The main approach is to look for biosignatures, which are detectable chemical or physical indicators that suggest the presence of life. These can include the presence of oxygen, methane, and other gases in a planet's atmosphere that are produced by living organisms.

Another approach is to search for habitable environments, which are places where life could potentially exist. This involves looking for planets that are within the habitable zone of their star, where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist.

Various techniques are used to search for these biosignatures and habitable environments, including spectroscopy, which analyzes the light emitted or absorbed by a planet's atmosphere. Ground-based and space-based telescopes are used to gather data on exoplanets, and future missions like the James Webb Space Telescope are expected to greatly improve our ability to study these distant worlds.