Astrobiology

Astrobiology is the multidisciplinary study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It involves the study of biology, astronomy, geology, and many other disciplines to understand how various forms of life interact with their physical and chemical environment on planets, including Earth. Astrobiology seeks to answer fundamental questions about the nature of life and its role in the Universe, and can yield insights about the search for extraterrestrial life and the origin of our own biosphere. Astrobiology has important implications for a variety of fields from medicine to space exploration and has a wide range of applications, from the search for microbial life on Mars to the development of strategies for interstellar travel.