Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. It involves understanding life, planetary environments, and stellar processes to search for life beyond Earth. It is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and other sciences. Key questions in astrobiology include how life originates and evolves, what environments can support life, whether there is or was life elsewhere in our solar system, and how to identify habitable or inhabited worlds. Extremophiles on Earth may provide clues about life in extreme space conditions. Research opportunities exist in universities, space agencies like NASA, and growing astrobiology programs around the world. India is also developing its astrobiology research capabilities through various institutes and collaborations with ISRO.

1. BY
DR. R. RAVI. M.Sc., PhD., MA., DCA.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

4.  Exobiology
 Xenobiology
 Space Biology

5. Definition
 Astrobiology is the study of life in the
universe.
 The search for life beyond the Earth
requires an understanding of
 life,
 the nature of the environments
 planetary,
 stellar interactions and processes.

6.  While astrobiology is a relatively young field
 It has a secure and promising future.
 Astronomy
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Geology
 Atmospheric science
 Oceanography and aeronautical engineering

7.  How does life originate?
 How does life evolve?
 What kind of environment is necessary for life to
survive?
 What are the environmental limits or “extremes”
under which life can survive?

8.  What might life look like on another world?
 Is there or has there been life elsewhere in
our solar system?
 How can we observe and identify a habitable
– or even inhabited – world?
 What is humanity’s future on Earth and
beyond?

9.  NASA and the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI).

10.  Identifying abiotic sources of organic compounds
 Synthesis and function of macromolecules in the
origin of life
 Early life and increasing complexity
 Co-evolution of life and the physical environment
 Identifying, exploring, and characterizing
environments for habitability and biosignatures
 Constructing habitable worlds

11.  In 1999, the University of Washington established its
Astrobiology Program (UWAB) – an interdisciplinary
education and research program dedicated to
advancing our understanding of current astrobiology
issues and training the astrobiologists of tomorrow.

13.  AN organism to exist in space-able to survive
extremely harsh conditions

15. An extremophile is an organism that thrives in
extreme environments.
 Thermophiles
 Psychrophiles
 Halophiles and
 Acidophiles.

17.  Simulation facilities showed that the
acidophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus
ferrooxidans was able to grow in Mars-like
geochemical conditions, without needing
nutrients added to the minerals in the
simulated Martian soil.

18. Salmonella enterica showed increased
virulence in a mouse infection model when
grown in space conditions

19.  lecturing at a university
 working in the press office providing information
to the media about the latest astronomy news;
 science journalist writing for magazines, books,
newspapers, or websites about the latest
discoveries;
 Astrobiology Graphic Histories if you have artistic
skills;
 work in science policy or in project management
or administration (helping space missions get
funded and co-ordinating their construction and
operation), among others.

20.  Candidates with any scientific background
can get into astrobiology as it is a very
interdisciplinary field.
 Any STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics) subjects can be taken up
to pursue a career in astrobiology.

21.  Analytical skills for being precise during research
experiments
 Critical-thinking skills for examining and analyzing
research work
 Technical skills for using various equipment required
for research
 Math skills for performing complex operations with
research experiments’ data
 Flexible for having an unbiased perspective for
research
 Persistent for continuing research
 Out-of-the-box Thinker to come up with innovative
research ideas

23.  Entry-level positions require a bachelor’s
degree in any related stream.
 Biology,
 Chemistry,
 Geology,
 Physics,
 Astronomy, and so on
 Master’s or doctoral degrees are required for
more advanced positions in the field

24.  NASA Astrobiology Institute
 European Astrobiology Institute
 Florida Institute of Technology
 Pennsylvania State University
 University of Arizona

25.  NASA summer programs
 Scholarships
 Astrobiology Primer
 The NASA Astrobiology Program
 The Astrobiology Graduate Conference
(AbGradCon)
 Astrobiology summer schools
 The NASA fellowships, and opportunities
 NASA’s job board

26.  Indian Astrobiology Research Foundation (IARF),
Mumbai
 Amity Centre of Excellence in Astrobiology, Amity
University
 M. P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research,
Bangalore
 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
 Ramana Research Institute, Bangalore

27.  Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
 Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences, Nainital
 Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
 Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram
 Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune.

28.  Amity University becomes the first Indian
University to embark on studying life in
Space.
 The Amity Centre of Excellence in
Astrobiology (ACoeA), has been selected by
the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) to design and build two small modules
to launch into space by ISRO in 2021

29. Research proposals are Supported by ISRO
in the areas of Space Science, Space
technology and Space Applications which
are of relevance to ISRO.
 Space Technology Cells (STCs)
 Regional Academic Centre for Space
(RAC-S)
 Established at various IITs/NITs and
premier institutes across the country can
select and generate R&D proposals.

30.  "Respond BASKET-2022 " comprises a set of
most urgent and immediate research areas
for the academia to select and prepare
detailed proposals under RESPOND
programme

35. “the universe is stranger than we can
imagine“, there is definitely a lot more to
explore beyond our home planet.