---
title: UMD-led Team’s Laser Device Can Help Detect Signs of Life on Other Planets
date: 2023-01-17T16:00:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/umd-led-teams-laser-device-can-help-detect-signs-of-life-on-other-planets"
section: Articles
---
# UMD-led Team’s Laser Device Can Help Detect Signs of Life on Other Planets

*January 17, 2023* — by [Georgia Jiang](/author/georgia-jiang)


> Miniature Analyzer May Revolutionize Astrobiology Discoveries

*Pia18347 1041 1920x1080 — Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is considered one of the likeliest extraterrestrial places to find life. A mini laser-sourced analyzer (below) developed by a UMD team is significantly smaller and more resource-efficient than its predecessors—all without compromising its ability to examine planetary material samples and potential biological activity far from our planet.*

As space missions expand farther into the outer solar system and the hunt for extraterrestrial life and habitable planets and moons accelerates, the need for more compact, resource-conserving and accurate analytical tools is increasingly critical.

A University of Maryland-led team developed a new instrument tailored to the needs of NASA space missions. The mini laser-sourced analyzer is significantly smaller and more resource-efficient than its predecessors—all without compromising its ability to examine planetary material samples and potential biological activity onsite. The team’s [paper](http://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01866-x)on the device was published Monday in the journal *Nature Astronomy*.


*Orbitrap mass analyzer*




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Astronomy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/astronomy), [Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/geology), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)