About this Video

• Video Title: BHLS21: What is Astrobiology? | Prof Karen Olsson-Francis
• Channel: Royal Astronomical Society
• Speakers: Lucinda, Joe, Prof. Karen Olsson-Francis
• Duration: 01:03:42

Introduction

This video is a lunchtime scientist talk hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society and the Linnean Society. Professor Karen Olsson-Francis, a professor of geomicrobiology, defines astrobiology, explores its interdisciplinary nature, and discusses the search for life beyond Earth, focusing on Mars and icy moons. She also touches on career paths and educational opportunities within the field.

Key Takeaways

• Astrobiology is a multidisciplinary field: It integrates biology, physics, geology, chemistry, and mathematics to study the origins and evolution of life on Earth and elsewhere.
• The "follow the water" strategy: A key approach in searching for extraterrestrial life, focusing on planets or moons with liquid water. Icy moons like those orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are considered promising targets due to subsurface oceans.
• Mars as a focus of research: Numerous missions to Mars have revealed evidence of past liquid water, prompting investigation into the potential for past or present life. The Mars Sample Return mission is particularly significant.
• Analog sites and simulations: Scientists use Earth environments (analog sites) and laboratory simulations to study conditions similar to those on other celestial bodies, aiding in the search for biosignatures.
• Career paths in astrobiology: While a dedicated astrobiology degree is uncommon, backgrounds in related fields (biology, chemistry, geology, etc.) provide a strong foundation. Opportunities exist within academia, industry (e.g., building space instrumentation), and space governance.

Here are fifteen questions to check for understanding and key points from the first 30 minutes of the video. All questions are answerable from the provided transcript within the 0:00:00-0:30:00 timeframe.

1. What two organizations co-produced the webinar series, and where are they located?
2. What is Professor Karen Olsson-Francis's area of expertise, and what is the name of the research group she directs?
3. What is the main question that drives the field of astrobiology?
4. Name three traditional scientific disciplines that are integral to astrobiology.
5. What are the main aims of astrobiology, as outlined by the speaker?
6. What is planetary protection, and why is it important in astrobiology?
7. What chemical building blocks of life have been detected in meteorites?
8. Briefly describe the Miller-Urey experiment and its significance.
9. What is thought to be the first form of life on Earth, and what is the evidence for this?
10. What three basic ingredients are essential for life, as discussed in the video?
11. Explain the "follow the water" strategy in the search for extraterrestrial life.
12. Besides the habitable zone, what other locations in our solar system are considered promising for finding life? Why?
13. What is the significance of the Perseverance rover mission to Mars?
14. What were the main aims of the Viking missions to Mars, and what key discovery did they make?
15. What are biosignatures, and provide at least two examples mentioned in the video?