Signatures of Life in the Universe
2021-2023
Sponsors
Heising-Simons Foundation
Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Additional Support
Theme
Over a remarkably short period of time, we have moved from seeking evidence for the existence of planets in other solar systems to amassing a catalogue of thousands of such exoplanets. We are now on the verge of being able to ask if any of these planets, or if any of the bodies in our solar system other than Earth, harbor life. To initiate a systematic survey for extraterrestrial life will require the careful definition of what chemical features to search for – the “signatures of life” – and the design and development of new, more sensitive tools to detect those chemical signatures. This Scialog will bring together early-career scientists from fields including earth and planetary science, chemistry and physics, astronomy and astrobiology, microbiology and biochemistry, and computer and data science to generate cutting edge projects to gain fundamental understanding of habitability of planets, detection of life beyond Earth, and life in extreme environments on Earth or in Earth’s distant past.
Booklets
2023 Scialog: Signatures of Life in the Universe Conference Booklet
2022 Scialog: Signatures of Life in the Universe Conference Booklet
2021 Scialog: Signatures of Life in the Universe Conference Booklet