The stratospheric observatory SOFIA recorded an increased proportion of the heavy isotope oxygen (oxygen-18) in
The heavy isotope oxygen is a variation of thisa chemical element whose nucleus contains not eight, but 10 neutrons. High concentrations of heavy oxygen can be found near the Earth's surface, since this atomic pattern is normally produced by photosynthetic organisms, just like ordinary oxygen.
Until now, it was believed that the heavy form of oxygendistributed only in the lower part of the atmosphere. The maximum height at which it was possible to detect this isotope when observed from the Earth was about 60 km - the lower boundary of the mesosphere.
A study conducted usingspecial equipment installed on board the SOFIA stratospheric observatory showed that the proportion of heavy oxygen at an altitude of about 200 km above the Earth's surface corresponds to that observed at the Earth's surface.
Although heavy oxygen can enter the upperlayers together with the solar wind, its concentration in this case is much lower. The discovery shows that the products associated with photosynthesis are distributed throughout the Earth's atmosphere, which means they can be remotely detected from another planet. A similar approach can be used to look for signs of life on exoplanets.
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