The Convergence Hypothesis: A Testable Framework for Evaluating Potential Biosignatures on Mars and Ocean Worlds

Abstract

This paper introduces the Convergence Hypothesis, a proposed, testable framework for investigating one of humanity’s most profound scientific questions: Could life have existed beyond Earth, leaving traces that remain undetected today?Focusing on Mars and potentially habitable ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus, this work examines how multiple independent lines of evidence—including mineralogical signatures, organic compounds, spatial relationships, and isotopic patterns—might help distinguish possible biological signatures from nonbiological chemical processes.Using findings from planetary exploration, including observations by NASA’s Perseverance rover, the paper outlines a framework for evaluating potential biosignatures through independent measurements, explicit decision criteria, competing explanations, and testable predictions. It also considers the limitations of current evidence and the challenges of identifying ancient or elusive life in environments beyond Earth.The central principle is that no single unusual mineral, organic molecule, or chemical pattern is sufficient to establish the existence of life. A credible interpretation requires converging evidence, rigorous testing of abiotic alternatives, and results that could potentially falsify the hypothesis.This work aims to contribute a structured approach to astrobiological investigation—one that can be challenged, refined, and evaluated through future observations and independent scientific analysis.This is a hypothesis, not a claim of discovery. No extraterrestrial life is asserted to have been found. The framework is intended to support critical scientific discussion and guide future investigations into the possibility of past or present life beyond Earth.