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The question of whether extraterrestrial life exists in the universe or not has long been debated. The Ancient Greeks believed that more life existed outside of Earth, but had no forms of technology to investigate further. Beginning in the 20th century, research into this question began to be taken more seriously as discoveries of what surrounds Earth were made. In the 21st century, the field of Astrobiology was created. Astrobiology uses modern technology and scientific capabilities to look into extraterrestrial life in new and innovative ways.
Astrobiology represents the study of life itself in space. There are a variety of different factors caused by space that astrobiologists have to take into account, such as planet systems and how stars interact. In order to understand how extraterrestrial life might survive in climates unfamiliar to humans, researchers consider a variety of other fields such as biology, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, and many more. Astrobiologists are working on a variety of ideas ranging how life originates and evolves to where life has existed in the solar system.
Astrobiology may be a relatively new field, but it is going to go far within the world of space exploration. There have been many recent telescope developments such as Kepler and the James Webb Space Telescope that have helped astrobiologists to delve further outside our solar system. Currently, astrobiology already helps space agencies such as NASA and ESA plan for important space missions such as trips inside our solar system to Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan. There are many plans for astrobiology, as many institutes and centers of research are being opened around the world.
For those interested in pursuing a degree in astrobiology or a closely related field, there are not many specialized astrobiology programs. However, there are a wide range of programs that discuss relevant topics such as geology, planetary science, and physics programs. There are also lots of other opportunities, such as research opportunities, internships, and summer programs for students. From there, future astrobiologists can begin to specialize in the area that interests them the most. There are a wide range of jobs that astrobiologists themselves can have! As interest in astrobiology and astrobiology careers grows, the future of astrobiology is looking brighter than ever.