Scientists are preparing the search for extraterrestrial life. In a new study, researchers at ETH Zurich investigated how many planets future research projects need to examine in order to deliver reliable results.

“Telescopes are currently being developed for the first time that are designed to systematically search for life on other planets,” first author of the study Daniel Angerhausen from ETH Zurich told the news agency Keystone-SDA.

But what if the telescopes find no signs of life? Before the telescopes are ready in 10 to 20 years, Angerhausen and his team of researchers are investigating this question in the study published on Monday in “The Astronomical Journal”.

They showed that “finding nothing” can also be an important result. According to the study, the observation of a few dozen planets without evidence of life is sufficient to make statistically significant statements about extraterrestrial life.