56-1640 Astrobiology

The question of life beyond Earth fascinated human kind for centuries and continues to do so today. This course examines the science behind the search for extraterrestrial life. Topics include the origins and nature of life, the minimum conditions for life, space missions that looked for evidence of life on Mars and the different techniques scientists use to discover planets orbiting other stars and discern their atmospheres. The course is built on multiple disciplines of science (astronomy, biology, physics, geology, chemistry), all focused on this single theme and all being essential components of the field of Astrobiology.

3 Credits
SC