What is astrobiology?
Astrobiology is a study of the potential of life beyond the borders of the planet Earth. It includes several scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, astrology and geology. Several universities and universities have astrobiological programs, for people who want to focus on studying this branch of sciences, and astrobiology is also studied in agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
There is a debate on astrobiology in the scientific community. Some scientists feel that people should focus on life on Earth, as well as problems facing organisms on Earth, rather than the potential of life beyond the boundaries of the Earth. Others look down at astrobiology because it is considered a marginal science and relies on theory, assumption and extrapolation. Some, however, feel that astrobiology is an important field of study and that it could provide traces of the future of Earth life in the universe in general.
Scientists in this area study the history, evolution and nature of life on Earth to learn more about the potential of life in space. Looking at Earth's life, astrobiologists can think about parameters that could be used to narrow the search for life in other places. For example, it is commonly assumed that water is necessary to support life, so scientists are particularly interested in objects in the space in which the water deposits are. Problems such as the proximity of the star on the planet that could accommodate life are also interesting.
In addition to looking at Earth's life and attempting to projoin the future of evolution, astrobiologists also look at the stars. They study objects obtained from space, such as the Moon material, as well as photographs of distant planets and other objects in space. They have stood such artifacts, hoping to detect traces of life, or at least signs that life was once present, even if it is no longer active.
Study forms of extraterrestrial life also requires certain PR challengesAbout the basics of biology. For example, cellular structures that are essential for life on Earth may vary completely in other corners of the universe and the basic building blocks throughout life may also be quite different. This means that astrobiology sometimes contradicts other disciplines in science, because scientists want to maintain an open mind about which forms life could take.