astrobiologist
Extraterrestrial life researcher
An astrobiologist studies the possibility of life beyond Earth—its origins, evolution, and potential distribution in the universe.
The field combines biology, chemistry, astronomy, and geology to ask where life might exist and how we'd recognize it: Astrobiologists are particularly interested in Mars and Europa.
The work ranges from analyzing extremophiles on Earth to designing instruments for detecting biosignatures on distant planets.
Worlds orbiting other stars
- MarsRed planet, war deity
- EuropaGalilean moon with subsurface ocean
- EnceladusIcy moon with geysers
- TitanMythic giant or moon
SETI · panspermia · xenobiology · biosignatures · alien · interstellar · protoplanetary · technosignatures
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- cellularComposed of small units
- biochemistryScience of living chemistry
- DNAHereditary code molecule
RNA · organisms · microbes · adaptation · evolution · abiogenesis · prebiotic · chemosynthesis
Detectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- experimentsTests of a hypothesis
- analysisMethodical study of parts
spectroscopy · data · findings · breakthrough · evidence · laboratory · fieldwork · publication
Federal space exploration bureau
- ESAContinental space organization
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- telescopesOptical magnifying instruments
- observatoriesFacilities for celestial study
missions · rovers · probes · spectrometers · Perseverance · Curiosity · orbit · launch
One who studies systematically
- scientistOne who studies nature
- professorSenior university teacher
- academicRelating to education or theory
- PhDHighest academic credential
postdoc · thesis · dissertation · JPL · grants · conferences · collaboration · interdisciplinary
exoplanets
Worlds orbiting other stars
Titan · SETI · panspermia · xenobiology · biosignatures · alien · interstellar · protoplanetary · technosignatures · exomoons
extremophiles
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- cellularComposed of small units
- biochemistryScience of living chemistry
DNA · RNA · organisms · microbes · adaptation · evolution · abiogenesis · prebiotic · chemosynthesis · archaea
biosignatures
Detectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- experimentsTests of a hypothesis
analysis · spectroscopy · data · findings · breakthrough · evidence · laboratory · fieldwork · publication · hypothesis
NASA
Federal space exploration bureau
- ESAContinental space organization
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- telescopesOptical magnifying instruments
observatories · missions · rovers · probes · spectrometers · Perseverance · Curiosity · orbit · launch · payload
researcher
One who studies systematically
- scientistOne who studies nature
- professorSenior university teacher
- academicRelating to education or theory
PhD · postdoc · thesis · dissertation · JPL · grants · conferences · collaboration · interdisciplinary · geobiologist
- biologistsgeneticist, microbiologist, biochemist, neurobiologist, ecologist
- Space Scientistscosmologist, NASA scientist, astrochemist, astrogeologist, planetologist
- science jobscosmologist
- Mars scientistsexobiologist
- scientistsEinstein, anthropologist, Darwin, chemist, archaeologist
- space jobscosmonaut, taikonaut, flight director, mission commander, flight engineer
astrobiologistmarine biologist
Studies sea life professionally
wildlife biologist · botanist · geobiologist · evolutionary biologist · entomologist
astrobiologistmicrobiologist
Scientist studying microscopic organisms
molecular biologist · histologist · cytologist · lab technician
biology, astronaut, astronomy, antibiotic, biological, astrology, astronomical, biologist, astronomer