In the quest to understand the potential for advanced life beyond Earth, researchers are widening their search to encompass not only biological markers, but also technological ones.

While astrobiologists have long recognized the importance of oxygen for life as we know it, oxygen could also be a key to unlocking advanced technology on a planetary scale.

In a new study published in Nature Astronomy, Adam Frank, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester and Amedeo Balbi, an associate professor of astrophysics at the University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy, outline the links between atmospheric oxygen and the potential rise of advanced technology on distant planets.

“We are ready to find signatures of life on alien worlds,” Frank says. “In our paper, we explore whether any atmospheric composition would be compatible with the presence of advanced technology,” Balbi says. “We found that the atmospheric requirements may be quite stringent.”
Frank and Balbi posit that, beyond its necessity for respiration and metabolism in multicellular organisms, oxygen is crucial to using fire—and using fire is a hallmark of a technological civilization.

On Planet Earth, the development of technology demanded easy access to open-air combustion—the process at the heart of fire, in which something is burned by combining a fuel and an oxidant, usually oxygen. Whether it’s cooking, forging metals for structures, crafting materials for homes, or harnessing energy through burning fuels, combustion has been the driving force behind industrial societies.

Tracing back through Earth’s history, the researchers found that the controlled use of fire and the subsequent metallurgical advancements were only possible when oxygen levels in the atmosphere reached or exceeded 18-20%. This means that only planets with significant oxygen concentrations will be capable of developing advanced life.

This research, addresses a previously unexplored facet in the cosmic pursuit of intelligent life, and underscores the need to prioritize planets with high oxygen levels when searching for tool using extraterrestrials.

During Medieval times, Christian theologians accepted the Ptolemaic earth centered Greek view of the universe as an absolute universal truth; because they taught that the incarnation of God in the body of a Jewish rabbi named Jesus must also be an absolutely unique event.

Even today Jose Funes, the Argentine director of the Vatican’s astronomical observatory, who has a degree in theology and a doctorate in astronomy, said that, “What is clear is that while God may have created aliens and planets similar to Earth, there can be no second Jesus.”

"The discovery of intelligent life does not mean there's another Jesus," he insisted, because "the incarnation of the son of God is a unique event in the history of humanity, of the Universe”.

But Islam teaches that Allah, the one and only universal God of the whole universe, has not only sent thousands of prophets to all the nations and peoples on earth; but has also sent prophets to the Jinn, who are non-terrestrial, non-human species: “O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will only pass by authority (from Allah).” (Qur’an 55:33)

Moses also knew of this as the Qur’an states (27:8): “But when he (Moses) came to it (the fire), he was called (and told), "Blessed is whoever is at/in the fire, and whoever is around it. Exalted is Allah, Lord of (all) the worlds.” meaning according to the Tafsir of Ibn ‘Abbas “the Master of jinn and human beings.”

Both the Qur'an and the Hebrew Bible teach that God created the whole universe to be conducive to the universal evolution of life. The Qur'an says, “We have not sent you but as a blessing for all the worlds.” (Al-Anbiya 107) Commentators say this refers to the 18.000 (populated) worlds created by Allah. Our world is one of them. (Mir'at-e-Kainat, vol.1, p.77).

The Hebrew Bible says in the Zaboor of Prophet David, King of Israel; “ Your kingdom is a kingdom of all worlds; and Your dominion is for all generations.” (Psalms 145:13) These two statements show that God’s concern for the religious guidance of all intelligent creatures is universal and therefore God’s prophets must active wherever intelligent creatures live.

Two recent studies support this Islamic-Jewish view. One study in the journal Nature found that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the Universe. Thus. Complex organic compounds are not the sole domain of living beings, but can be made naturally by stars themselves. This means that life is not a random fluke; the universe itself is formed to produce life.

Organic substances commonly found throughout the Universe contain a mixture of ring-like and chain-like components. The compounds are so complex that their chemical structures resemble those of coal and petroleum. Since coal and oil are remnants of ancient life, this type of organic matter was thought to arise only from living organisms. The team's discovery suggests that complex organic compounds can be synthesized in space even before life forms have evolved on planets.

Just four centuries ago the Catholic Inquisition punished those who dared to voice new ideas. Since Jews and Muslims never had a tradition of punishing astronomers like Galileo, they were more open to learning about new scientific discoveries than Christians. Some Christians still think that only the earth’s life forms can be at the center of God's creation.

Even in America today, many Protestant Christians avoid learning about new scientific discoveries. According to a recently (February 2015) completed study "Religious Understandings of Science”, among members of non-Christian religions; 42 percent of Jews, and 52 percent of Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus (taken as a group) are twice as interested in new scientific discoveries compared to only 22 percent of Protestant evangelicals.

Before I decided to become a Reform Rabbi, I was studying to become an astrophysicist. I still follow scientific developments closely; and I can safely state that the majority of astrophysicists think that by the end of this decade many hundreds of earth like planets will be found.

Before the end of the next decade we will have evidence of many planets with an atmosphere that not only contains clear signs of the water needed for life to develop; but also the 18-20% level of oxygen that can only be maintained by very large numbers of living beings who have learned to use fire.

“From water We made every living thing. Will they not then believe?” (Qur’an, 21:30) Indeed, all scientists do believe now that every living thing on our planet is descendant from creatures that first originated in our planet’s oceans more than three billion years ago. Humans, one of planet Earth’s most recent species, also are descendants from God’s original creation: ”It is He Who has created man from water” (Qur’an, 25:54).

As it is written in the Zaboor of Prophet David, King of Israel; “The heavens declare the glory of God. The universe proclaims God's handiwork.” (Psalms 19:2)