Alidomainien
Alidomainien is a term used in speculative xenobiology to describe a proposed class of aerial microorganisms that could inhabit the upper atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets and brown dwarfs. The concept envisions life forms floating within cloud decks, extracting energy from atmospheric chemistry and light, and forming communities adapted to low temperatures and high UV exposure.
Etymology and scope: The name combines a prefix suggesting an alternative or external domain with the ecological
Biology and ecology: Alidomainien are hypothesized to be micro-scale, filamentous or coccoid organisms equipped with buoyancy
Habitat and distribution: The concept places alidomainien in the cloud layers of gas giants in our solar
Evidence and controversy: No direct observation has confirmed alidomainien. Support comes from indirect biosignature models and
In speculative literature, alidomainien are discussed alongside biosignatures, xenobiology and exoplanet atmospheres.