Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Edinburgh begins with definitions and origins of life before examining early Earth, extreme environments and possible habitats elsewhere. Exoplanets and extraterrestrial intelligence broaden the discussion. It suits learners interested in the overlap between astronomy and biology, particularly how scientists design a search when the nature of the target remains uncertain.

What you will learn

• Examine working definitions of life.
• Compare terrestrial extremes with possible planetary habitats.
• Explore approaches to detecting life beyond Earth.

Who this suits

Learners interested in introductory astrobiology across biology and planetary science; the provider assigns a mixed level.

Before you enroll

Compare an explanation with the observations supporting it and keep established findings separate from hypotheses. Research develops after a course is recorded, so check dates when following links to missions or discoveries. Workload is a provider estimate; calculations and software setup may require additional time.

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Put it into practice

Propose a hypothetical search for life on a planetary body. Identify the observation you would seek, a nonbiological explanation and an additional measurement that could help distinguish them.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

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