Black Trees? Alien Planets Could Grow Different Color Plants

Imagine a planet completely devoid of green foliage, populated by black trees.

Because the color of plants is the result of the different wavelengths of light that can be absorbed by chlorophyll, planets that have a different relationship with the star (or stars) they orbit than Earth could have different color foliage. According to Space.com, a new study has shown through simulations that some planets, were they able to sustain plant life, could even produce black trees.

The simulations were done with both one and two star solar systems.

"Plants with dim red dwarf suns, for example, may appear black to our eyes, absorbing across the entire visible wavelength range in order to use as much of the available light as possible," O'Malley-James said, according to Space.com.

The findings are particularly interesting because red dwarves are often found in systems that many astronomers think could sustain life. In conjunction with the billions of potential alien earths astronomers have recently discovered, they open a world of possibilities.

It's almost like something out of Star Wars, but theoretically each of these planets could host its own unique type of flora, which could differ dramatically in color.

However, Space.com is clear to show that this is all simply speculation, especially since no proof of life in the universe has been found beyond Earth. Though the science behind the study seems to be sound, it does rely on the fact that not only life has to exist on other planets, but that it would function in a similar fashion to life on Earth.