astrobiology
False positive: Exoplanets could have lots of oxygen but no life
Oxygen is thought to be a biomarker for extraterrestrial life, but there are at least three different ways that a lifeless planet can produce it.
Less-advanced alien civilizations may be nearby — but we’re not looking for them
Humans are more likely to have "first contact" with an advanced alien civilization, according to a recent NASA-funded paper.
Lightning may have provided a key mineral for early life on Earth
How do you get usable phosphorus into a system? A new study suggests lightning can do the trick.
NASA’s Perseverance records first-ever sounds of rover driving on Mars
Sound waves behave quite differently on Mars than on Earth.
If we do find alien life, what kind will it be?
Three lines of evidence point to the idea of complex, multicellular alien life being a wild goose chase. But are we clever enough to know?
Scientists grow extremophile microbes on rocks from Mars
The results could help NASA's Perseverance rover find evidence of ancient life on Mars.
Finding aliens: Is there a ‘theory of everything’ for life?
The search for alien life is far too human-centric. Our flawed understanding of what life really is may be holding us back from important discoveries about the universe and ourselves.
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Scientists identify 24 planets potentially better suited for life than Earth
The study identified superhabitable planets outside of our solar system.
Venus’ clouds may harbor ‘aerial’ aliens, MIT scientists say
Scientists have detected within the Venusian atmosphere a chemical known to be a byproduct of life.
NASA scientists propose sending a submarine to explore Titan’s seas
The mission could launch as soon as the 2030s, the researchers said.
The biology of aliens: How much do we know?
Hollywood has created an idea of aliens that doesn't match the science.
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Study: Life might survive, and thrive, in a hydrogen world
When searching for extraterrestrial life, astronomers may want to look at planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres.
An Earth-sized planet found in the habitable zone of a nearby star
Until about a decade ago, only two habitable zone planets of any size were known to astronomers: Earth and Mars.
Could invisible aliens really exist among us? An astrobiologist explains
The intelligent life we are searching for doesn't have to be humanoid.
What can old stars teach us about the birth of our galaxy?
These needles in the vast galactic haystack take more effort to find, but they help piece together our origins.
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Mars 2020 will hunt for ‘microfossils’, signs of ancient alien life
The Jerezo crater — where Mars 2020 is set to land — could be a good place to find signs of past life on Mars.
Scientists create precursor to life in thermal vent experiment
Scientists speculate that if life were to have spontaneously developed on Earth, the first thing there would need to be are vesicles.
China grew a plant on the moon — it sprouted two leaves, data indicates
It marks the first time a plant has been grown on the moon.
Could Earth have a ‘shadow’ biosphere?
Some scientists think there may be a hidden, second form of life living right under our noses.
Water discovered on exoplanet K2-18b in ‘Goldilocks Zone’
Scientists say it might even rain on the exoplanet, dubbed K2-18b.
Crashed Israeli lunar lander could have spilled ‘water bears’ on moon
Tardigrades – commonly called "water bears" – were among the payload of an Israeli lunar lander that crashed into the moon in April.
TESS satellite identifies nearby, potentially habitable super-Earth
We may find signs of life a mere 31 light-years away.
5 reasons future space travel should explore asteroids
While the world considers future trips to Mars, two astrophysicists make a case for exploring asteroids.
Octopus arms can make decisions on their own
The remarkable distributed nervous system of the octopus is discussed at an astrobiology conference.
Hi, I’m Adam. And I’m looking for aliens.
An astrobiologist joins a like-minded global community in ramping up the search.
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How to detect life on Mars
If life exists on Mars, there's a good chance it's related to us, say researchers.
What could alternate, alien forms of life look like?
All life as we know it relies on carbon and water. But researchers speculate this doesn't have to be the case.