Astrobiology: The Search for Life on Other Planets

“There are two possibilities. Maybe we’re alone. Maybe we’re not. Both are equally frightening.” –Bertrand Russell. The possibility that life may exist beyond planet Earth has captured the imagination for decades. More recently, the ‘search’ became a legitimate scientific discussion. In this seminar we will explore the emerging field of astrobiology by investigating the possibility of life beyond Earth from a variety of perspectives including fictional depictions of space travel, ‘ground-truthing’ efforts in the research of extreme environments on Earth, current space program missions, and a look at the lives of the scientists who legitimized the search for extraterrestrial life. 3 hrs. sem.