Star Life

For Outward Space visitors, I have curated a list of video lectures and presentations about astrobiology.

What is astrobiology?

Astrobiology means "star life." While we don't know for sure if life exists outside of Earth, G. Scott Hubbard, former director of NASA's Ames Research Center, says that astrobiology aims to embrace "the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe."

Credit: "The Search for Life on Mars" by Dr. Janice Bishop,
Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and the NASA Ames Research Center, February 9, 2010.

These videos are usually targeted for university-level audiences, but special background knowledge is not needed to understand them. Someone who is attentive can get lots of cool information.

Credit: "The Search for Life on Mars" by Dr. Janice Bishop,
Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and the NASA Ames Research Center, February 9, 2010.

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3189axKPkoqiDH6fALZh5XAIOEU2M_S

More about astrobiology: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/what-is-astrobiology

Credit: "The Search for Life on Mars" by Dr. Janice Bishop,
Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and the NASA Ames Research Center, February 9, 2010.

Life on Europa?

Europa, a moon of Jupiter, is starting to look like a place we could find living organisms! Image that!

But, we have to go there and look to know for sure. 

Europa.  Credit: NASA

At the dark, cold bottom of Earth's oceans we find life around hydrothermal vents. 

Hydrothermal vents are places where hot sea water blasts up through the seafloor back into the ocean - like an underwater geyser full of minerals.

If we can find evidence for hydrothermal vents on Europa, maybe we can find life around them too.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says:

With evidence of a global ocean underneath an active, icy crust, Europa has become an increasingly intriguing destination in the search for life beyond Earth. Future NASA missions will explore Europa and other ocean worlds.

Video lecture featuring planetary geologist Cynthia Phillips. Credit:  NASA JPL