This article summarizes findings showing that the Spitzer telescope has observed the spectral signature of tryptophan in an extrasolar system.
This isn’t the first instance of amino acids found extra-terrestrially (previously found on asteroids), but is the first found outside our solar system. Tryptophan has a very strong and very clear spectral signature (it is ubiquitously used in life sciences for example).
This explains the Fermi Paradox, the aliens are too sleepy.
Given it’s a precursor to serotonin that must be the least depressing place in the universe!
The thing that amazes me is that the article says the stuff is at 7 degrees celsius. How much of the stuff does there have to be to be detectable at such a distance, and how can it average out at 7 degrees. Mind boggling stuff.