Purple Photosynthesis as a Detectable Biosignature on Exoplanets Around Cool Stars

To the point

Cornell scientists Lígia Fonseca Coelho and Lisa Kaltenegger say purple bacteria could use infrared light to photosynthesize on planets around cool red dwarfs, leaving a distinctive purple biosignature for future telescopes to detect, and they’re building a life-signs database to catch non-Earthlike purple life.

In search for alien life, purple may be the new green
eurekalert.org

In search for alien life, purple may be the new green

In the search for life across the cosmos, the familiar green hue we most associate with life on Earth may not be the best indicator. An Earth-like planet orbiting another star might look very different, potentially covered by bacteria that use invisible infrared radiation to power photosynthesis.