
Forget the classic green aliens we’ve come to expect in movies. A recent study has thrown out the old stereotype and suggested extraterrestrial life could very well be purple. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, here are some insights into that study that explore why purple might be the color of aliens.
The Research Team

This study was led by Cornell University, specifically by researchers from the Department of Astronomy and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The team, including Professor Lisa Kaltenegger, investigated how life might evolve on distant planets.
Motive Behind Their Study

Traditionally, previous studies have focused on detecting green pigments like chlorophyll, which are dominant in Earth’s photosynthetic organisms. The researchers at Cornell University conducted this study to challenge and broaden the scope of our search for extraterrestrial life.
Selective Light Absorption

The atmospheres of some planets might be influencing the type of light that reaches the surface. For organisms to survive in such conditions, purple tints would be particularly effective in absorbing specific light wavelengths that make it through these unusual atmospheres.
More Light Absorption

On certain planets, purple shades may have also evolved to absorb more amounts of light. In star systems with unique light spectra, this color could provide an advantage by allowing organisms to capture plenty of available light to stay alive and well.
Helping With Photosynthesis

Similar to the way Earth plants use chlorophyll, extraterrestrial life could rely on the purples for photosynthesis. Environments that have differing light conditions might use these colors to convert energy more efficiently than the green pigments we are familiar with.
Cover From UV Radiation

Just like melanin helps protect life on Earth from ultraviolet rays, purple might offer a similar function for aliens. Those hues could shield extraterrestrial lifeforms from harmful radiations of the sun and other bright stars, especially within thin atmospheres.
Protection Against Space Radiation

Apart from UV rays, these pigments could also serve as a protective shield in environments where cosmic and trapped radiation levels are higher. Aliens on such planets could be using their purple skin as a natural cover to survive the otherwise dangerous space radiation.
Earth’s Purple Pigment Precedents

Did you know that purple skin colors aren’t new to Earth? There are purple bacteria and algae that use similar coloring substances to function on this planet. The Earth also has such organisms, which further strengthens the research around purple aliens.
Adapting Alien Vision

If certain species have evolved to see more colors or wavelengths of light beyond human vision, the credit again goes to the color purple. Their eyes could help them interpret their environment more effectively and move through worlds with different visual needs.
What’s Next For The Study

Cornell University’s research lays the groundwork for future studies on alien life. By exploring the potential for purple pigments, the team has questioned how we imagine alien life. It could influence upcoming space missions and the search for life on exoplanets.