ASTROBIOLOGY

A Brief History of Astrobiology



Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion4

What questions Astro - biologist try to solve?6

Study the past to understand the future11

Modern Astrobiology12

Objectives14

Conclusion14

A Brief History of Astrobiology

Introduction

The subject of astrobiology is of great interest to a wide variety of public audiences, and this interest is likely to grow as astrobiology investigations are launched on a growing number of space exploration missions. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It is a multidisciplinary field of research, drawing on knowledge and expertise in astronomy, biology (particularly microbiology and evolutionary biology), chemistry, earth and planetary sciences, physics, and many hybrid or sub - disciplines. Astrobiology also involves, to a lesser extent, studies in the humanities (primarily philosophy and theology) and social sciences. The idea that life on other planets might actually exist (or have existed in the past) obviously captures public attention.

Astrobiology encompasses the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry (chemical steps leading to the origin of life), signs of past or present life on Mars and other bodies in our solar system, habitable environments in our solar system, and habitable planets outside our solar system. It also encompasses laboratory and field research focused on understanding the origins and early evolution of life on Earth and on Earth itself, as well as studies of the potential for life to adapt to challenges on Earth (for example, climate change) and in space (for example, cosmic radiation and reduced gravity). Today, astrobiology investigations on planetary exploration missions are focusing first on determining whether other planetary environments are now or have ever been habitable.

Discussion

Astrobiology is the science that deals with the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. It is a multidisciplinary field of study that includes the search for habitable environments in our solar system and beyond, looking for evidence of the existence of prebiotic chemistry and life on Mars and other planets as well as field studies and laboratory on the origins and early evolution of life on Earth and study the potential of life to adapt to future challenges that may arise on Earth and space.

Astrobiology is thus to answer fundamental questions such as whether life exists beyond Earth and, if so, how can we detect it, how life arises and evolves or what is the future of life on our planet and the universe. This addresses these questions from a multidisciplinary approach that combines molecular biology, microbiology and evolutionary biology, ecology, planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, information science and space exploration technologies and other related disciplines.

The first documented evidence on the question of the possibility of the existence of other inhabited worlds date back at least to the mythology and religion of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. In such cultures were notions of the concept of extraterrestrial life, but always related to gods, spirits or demons that inhabit other worlds.

Preceded the emergence of astrobiology general philosophical views on the prevalence of life beyond Earth, expressed, for example, Giordano Bruno, in his work ...