astrobiologists
Extraterrestrial life scientists
Astrobiologists are scientists who study the possibility of life beyond Earth.
The field combines astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology to investigate where life might exist in the universe and how to detect it.
Astrobiologists examine extreme environments on Earth, analyze conditions on other planets and moons, and consider what forms extraterrestrial life might take: Astrobiologists were excited by the discovery of subsurface water on Mars.
Detectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- SETIQuest for cosmic signals
exoplanets · martian · titan · xenobiology · astrochemistry · interstellar · habitable zones · technosignatures
Red planet, war deity
- VenusLove goddess, or planet
- moonsBodies orbiting planets
- atmospheresGaseous layers surrounding celestial bodies
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
volcanism · tectonics · radiation · temperature · pressure · subsurface · ice · water
Study of light-matter interaction
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
data analysis · methodology · observation · publication · sample collection · laboratory · simulation · modeling
Cellular nutrient conversion
- cellsBasic biological units
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- RNAGene expression molecule
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
enzymes · biochemistry · photosynthesis · chemosynthesis · carbon-based · silicon-based · biomarkers · microbial
Non-living molecular synthesis
- abiogenesisLife from inanimate matter
- hydrothermal ventsSubmarine volcanic water jets
- primordial soupHypothetical life-origin mixture
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
nucleotides · chirality · stromatolites · phospholipids · self-replication · polymerization
biosignatures
Detectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
SETI · exoplanets · martian · titan · xenobiology · astrochemistry · interstellar · habitable zones · technosignatures · water worlds
Mars
Red planet, war deity
- VenusLove goddess, or planet
- moonsBodies orbiting planets
- atmospheresGaseous layers surrounding celestial bodies
geology · volcanism · tectonics · radiation · temperature · pressure · subsurface · ice · water · mineralogy
spectroscopy
Study of light-matter interaction
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
experimentation · data analysis · methodology · observation · publication · sample collection · laboratory · simulation · modeling · Mars rovers
metabolism
Cellular nutrient conversion
proteins · enzymes · biochemistry · photosynthesis · chemosynthesis · carbon-based · silicon-based · biomarkers · microbial · archaea
prebiotic chemistry
Non-living molecular synthesis
- abiogenesisLife from inanimate matter
- hydrothermal ventsSubmarine volcanic water jets
- primordial soupHypothetical life-origin mixture
amino acids · nucleotides · chirality · stromatolites · phospholipids · self-replication · polymerization
astrobiologistsecologists
Experts on organism-environment relationships
microbiologists · marine biologists · botanists · zoologists · wildlife biologists
astrobiologistsufologists
Aerial anomaly investigators
astrobiologistsastronomers
Scientists studying celestial bodies
astrophysicists · cosmologists · geologists · chemists · physicists