http://www.newsweek.com/scientists-discover-new-photosynthesis-alien-life-982782

The discovery of a new way that bacteria can absorb infrared light and turn it into energy has transformed scientific understanding of life on Earth and could change the way humans hunt for alien life.

Plants use a process called photosynthesis to generate sugars from carbon dioxide and water, which they use as fuel. Until now, this was thought to be driven only by red light, but a team of researchers at Imperial College London discovered a type of photosynthesis that uses light from the infrared spectrum.