Rovers sent to Mars have so far failed to detect life, likely because it doesn’t exist on the Red Planet. But we can’t say for certain, so the search must continue, using ever-evolving techniques—including this out-of-the-box idea from a team of scientists.

A team of researchers in Germany have proposed a new method for searching for life on alien worlds, which they believe could be integrated into future Mars missions. Finding life on another planet would be a world-changing discovery for humanity.

Researchers have been looking for life on Mars for a long time, and they might have found it on one occasion, only to destroy it at the same time.