Summary
Explores the conditions required for life as we know it — liquid water, an energy source, organic chemistry — and asks where in the universe those conditions might exist beyond Earth.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
- What three conditions do scientists believe are necessary for life?
- Why do scientists think Europa (a moon of Jupiter) might be a candidate for life?
- Why is Mars a priority target for astrobiology missions?
- Could life exist somewhere in the universe that needs completely different conditions than what Earth life needs?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: astrobiology, habitable zone, liquid water, organic chemistry, energy source, extraterrestrial.
Try it: Research the 'habitable zone' around a star. Draw our solar system and shade in the habitable zone. Which planets are inside it? Are any moons possibly habitable even outside it? Why?