Vortragsreihe Ökologie und Umweltforschung SS 2013

2 - Life in the solar system and beyond: recent knowledge in Astrobiology

The question if our home planet Earth is unique in the universe or if other planets and moons might harbor life is one of the main scientific topics in the last decade. One of the most important characteristics to be habitable is the presence of an energy source and a liquid. Liquid water might play a central role in this context and can be expected on Mars as well as on other moons of the Jovian and Saturnian System, where oceans are supposed to be below a thick ice crust.

Are these worlds habitable? – Can we also expect habitable planets and moons in the extra-solar-systems?

Model calculations and experiments were performed within the very young scientific discipline of Astrobiology. Different microorganisms being part of the three main domains of the tree of life as there are archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes, were tested before, during and after simulated planetary and real space conditions. Results of these experiments will be presented and might give important insights in the potential of other planets to be habitable. 

Public Lecture with two Presentations on Extraterrestrial Life

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