Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It seeks to understand what life is, which is defined as a self-sustaining system able to process information and extract energy from its environment to maintain complexity and replicate. The field explores the conditions for life in extreme environments on Earth, as well as the potential for life elsewhere in our solar system, such as on Mars or in the oceans of moons like Europa, and the possibility of discovering life on newly discovered exoplanets.

1. Astrobiology
The search for alien life
Dr. Lewis Dartnell
University of Leicester
@lewis_dartnell

2. Subsurface cosmic ionising
radiation environment of
Mars
„Martian Death Rays‟
or

4. What is astrobiology?

5. What is astrobiology?
“ The quest to understand the origin,
evolution, distribution and future of life in
the Universe ”

6. What is ‘life‟ ?

7. What is life?
A self-sustaining system able to process information and
extract energy from the environment to maintain its own
complexity and replicate.

8. Complexity of life

10. Extremophiles

11. Thermophiles & Acidophiles

12. Psychrophiles

13. Methane worm

14. Envelope of life

15. Envelope of life

16. A Tour of the Solar System

18. Mars

19. ExoMars

20. Jupiter system

21. Galilean satellites

22. Europa

23. Saturn system

24. Titan

25. A Hidden World

26. Our local galaxy

27. Alien solar systems

28. Kepler

29. Kepler’s
view

30. A Second Earth

31. Hubble Deep Field

32. … questions ?
@lewis_dartnell

33. What do you think?
 What do you think will change if we do discover
life on Mars…?
 What about intelligent life …?
 Should we ever send humans to Mars, with the risk of
contaminating the planet…?
 If we do find bacteria on Mars, should we bring them to
Earth …?
 What’s the point of spending money on space exploration?