Nobel laureate delves into whether life exists elsewhere at Fudan University

"Besides Earth, we have no evidence of life elsewhere in the universe so far. However, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," he said, presenting findings on the atmospheres of certain exoplanets, highlighting the absorption spectra of key molecules like carbon dioxide and methane. While these molecules are not direct evidence of life, they offer clues about potential chemical environments, allowing researchers to infer planetary structures and the conditions necessary for life, said Queloz.

"Is Earth unique? Why did life appear here? These are questions we still can't answer," Queloz said. However, with advancements in observational technology and data accumulation, astronomers can now explore the conditions necessary for life across a broader sample. Complex chemical reactions and planetary atmospheres, once theoretical, are becoming measurable phenomena, said Queloz.

During the lecture, Queloz said he believes extraterrestrial life exists beyond Earth.

"With so many planets, there must be life, even if it's just bacterial traces. Yet, in the Milky Way, we might be rare, perhaps the only intelligent beings aware of the existence of the universe," he said.