Life
Could Life Exist in Molecular Clouds?
Our search for life beyond Earth is still in its infancy. We're focused on Mars and, to a lesser extent,…
Even Tiny Amounts of DNA on Mars Will Be Detectable
The Search for Life is focused on the search for biosignatures. Planetary life leaves a chemical fingerprint on a planet's…
When did the First Continents Appear in the Universe?
On Earth, continents are likely necessary to support life. Continents 'float' on top of the Earth's viscous mantle, and heat…
Has the First Biosignature Been Found on an Exoplanet?
Astronomers have found tentative evidence of a biosignature on an alien world, but we are far from proving that extraterrestrial…
Is Anyone Planning for Diplomacy with an Extraterrestrial Civilization?
Imagine we detect an interstellar object entering our Solar System. At first, astronomers think it's just another natural interloper like…
Did Life Need Plate Tectonics to Emerge?
It's widely accepted that Earth's plate tectonics are a key factor in life's emergence. Plate tectonics allows heat to move…
A New Place to Search for Habitable Planets: “The Soot Line.”
The habitable zone is the region around a star where planets can maintain liquid water on their surface. It's axiomatic…
Fatty Acids Might Exist in Space
A team of physicists have discovered that the environment of a molecular cloud in interstellar space can support the existence…
Advanced Life Should Have Already Peaked Billions of Years Ago
Did humanity miss the party? Are SETI, the Drake Equation, and the Fermi Paradox all just artifacts of our ignorance…
Solar Flares Could Have Helped Life Get Started on Earth
Stars emit powerful flares that can be deadly for any burgeoning life on nearby planets. Images from spacecraft that monitor…