biosignatures
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What If Alien Life Doesn’t Look Like Life?
When scientists search for life beyond Earth, they usually look for things that resemble life here. For example, oxygen in a planet’s atmosphere is exciting because plants on Earth produce oxygen. Liquid water is important because all known life depends… Continue reading
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Book Review: Life in the Universe by Jeffrey Bennett, Seth Shostak, and Bruce Jakosky
Life in the Universe is an insightful and engaging textbook that explores astrobiology, planetary science, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Written by Jeffrey Bennett, Bruce Jakosky, and Seth Shostak, the book takes an interdisciplinary approach, integrating astronomy, biology, and… Continue reading
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The Search for Exoplanet Biosignatures
Oxygen (O₂) and Ozone (O₃): On Earth, oxygen is produced primarily by photosynthesis. A high level of oxygen in an exoplanet’s atmosphere, especially alongside methane, could indicate biological processes. Methane (CH₄): Methane is rapidly destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, so a… Continue reading
