- "Astrobiology is a scientific field within the life and environmental sciences that studies the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe by investigating its deterministic conditions and contingent events."
The study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Includes topics such as the search for extraterrestrial life.
Astronomy: The study of celestial objects and their properties.
Exoplanetology: The study of planets outside our solar system.
Astrochemistry: The study of chemical processes and reactions in space.
Cosmology: The study of the origin, evolution, and future of the universe.
Planetary Science: The study of planets and moons, including their geology, atmosphere, and potential for life.
Origins of life: The study of how life originated and evolved on Earth and the conditions necessary for life to exist elsewhere in the universe.
Astrobiology: The interdisciplinary study of life in the universe, bringing together aspects of astronomy, biology, and geology.
Astroecology: The study of how life interacts with its environment in space.
Habitable zones: The range of distances from a star where liquid water can exist on the surface of a planet, a key factor in the search for habitable worlds.
SETI: The search for extraterrestrial intelligence, including strategies for detecting signals from other civilizations.
Molecular biology: The study of the structure and function of biological molecules, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, and their role in the origins and evolution of life.
Biochemistry: The study of chemical processes within living organisms, including metabolism and cellular respiration.
Evolution: The study of how organisms change over time, including the mechanisms of natural selection and genetic drift.
Paleontology: The study of ancient life, including the fossil record and the history of life on Earth.
Geophysics: The study of the physical properties and processes of the Earth, including tectonics, geology, and the potential for life underground.
Meteorology: The study of the Earth's atmosphere and weather patterns, and their potential impact on the origin and evolution of life.
Radiation biology: The study of how organisms respond to and survive in high-radiation environments, such as space.
Astrogeology: The study of planetary geology, including the formation and evolution of planetary surfaces and the potential for geological activity on other worlds.
Astronomical instrumentation: The development and use of techniques and tools for observing and studying celestial objects, including telescopes, spectroscopy, and space probes.
Data analysis and computer science: The use of computational and statistical methods to analyze astronomical and biological data, and to model complex systems.
Exobiology: The study of life in the Universe outside of Earth.
Astropaleontology: The discovery and interpretation of fossil evidence of life in other planets, such as Mars, which has been a focus of NASA missions.
Astrochemistry: The study of the chemical reactions and elements necessary for life and their origins in the Universe.
Planetary Science: The study of planets and their atmospheres, geology, and potential habitability.
Astroecology: The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment in extraterrestrial environments.
Space technology: The use of aerospace technology to explore space and develop techniques for detecting and studying life beyond Earth.
Astrogeology: The study of the geology of other planets and the processes that have shaped their surfaces, including the search for liquid water that may support life.
Astrobiology instrumentation development: The creation and use of high-tech instruments designed to search for evidence of life on other planets and moons.
Exoplanetology: The study of exoplanets and their potential habitability, as well as the search for signs of life beyond our Solar System.
Astroethics: The study of the ethical considerations involved in the study and exploration of life beyond Earth.
- "Astrobiology is founded on the premise that life may exist beyond Earth."
- "Research in astrobiology comprises three main areas: the study of habitable environments in the Solar System and beyond, the search for planetary biosignatures of past or present extraterrestrial life, and the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth."
- "The field of astrobiology has its origins in the 20th century with the advent of space exploration and the discovery of exoplanets."
- "Early astrobiology research focused on the search for extraterrestrial life and the study of the potential for life to exist on other planets."
- "In the 1960s and 1970s, NASA began its astrobiology pursuits within the Viking program, which was the first US mission to land on Mars and search for signs of life."
- "Regarding habitable environments, astrobiology investigates potential locations beyond Earth that could support life, such as Mars, Europa, and exoplanets, through research into the extremophiles populating austere environments on Earth."
- "Research within this topic is conducted utilizing the methodology of the geosciences, especially geobiology, for astrobiological applications."
- "The search for biosignatures involves the identification of signs of past or present life in the form of organic compounds, isotopic ratios, or microbial fossils."
- "Research within this topic is conducted utilizing the methodology of planetary and environmental science, especially atmospheric science, for astrobiological applications, and is often conducted through remote sensing and in situ missions."
- "Astrobiology also concerns the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth to try to understand the conditions that are necessary for life to form on other planets."
- "Research within this topic is conducted utilizing the methodology of paleosciences, especially paleobiology, for astrobiological applications."
- "Astrobiology is a rapidly developing field with a strong interdisciplinary aspect that holds many challenges and opportunities for scientists."
- "Astrobiology programs and research centers are present in many universities and research institutions around the world, and space agencies like NASA and ESA have dedicated departments and programs for astrobiology research."