MERMOZ (also, MERMOZ project and Monitoring planEtary suRfaces with Modern pOlarimetric characteriZation) is a Swiss and Dutch astrobiology project designed to remotely detect biosignatures of life. Detection is based on molecular homochirality, a characteristic property of the biochemicals of life.
According to a member of the MERMOZ team, “When light is reflected by biological matter, a part of the light’s electromagnetic waves will travel in either clockwise or counterclockwise spirals ... This phenomenon is called circular polarization and is caused by the biological matter’s homochirality.” These unique spirals of light indicate living materials; whereas, non-living materials do not reflect such unique spirals of light, according to the researchers. The projects next phase is to scan the Earth from the International Space Station, followed by possible pathfinder space mission in 2024.
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