Astrobiology

Astrobiology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of life in the universe, including the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life beyond Earth. It encompasses the examination of extreme environments on Earth, which may provide insights into potential extraterrestrial habitats, as well as the study of the chemical and physical conditions necessary for life to exist. Astrobiology also involves the search for habitable planets, the study of potential biosignatures (indicators of life), and the investigation of how life might adapt to different environments in space. The field combines aspects of biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, and planetary science to explore the possibility of life elsewhere in the cosmos and to understand the fundamental nature of life itself.