It's not very fun to do spectroscopy.

Connection between life and radioactive nuclei is straightforward. No life without tectonic activity, without volcanic activity. And we know very well that geothermal energy is mostly produced by decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.

The one way to discover about aliens is to tune your radio telescope and listen to the signals.

There are many unidentified bands in the spectra of stars. Wide bands are produced by some complex molecules in the interstellar space.

Spectroscopy can probably answer the question, 'Is there anybody out there?' Are we alone?

I have no doubt that Brian May would have had a brilliant career in science had he completed his Ph.D. in 1971.