Astrobiology

When Did Life on Earth Begin?

Our estimates for the prevalence of life in the universe depend on how quickly it arose on Earth.

By Kimberly M.S. Cartier and Jason T. Wright

It May Not Feel Like Anything To Be an Alien

Humans may have one thing that advanced aliens don’t: consciousness.

By Susan Schneider

Illustrations by Martin Gee

Top 8 Places to Look for Life in our Solar System

From the Europan oceans to the Jovian clouds, life has plenty of places to hide.

By Leslie Mullen

Illustrations by Tianhua Mao

An Alien Adaptability Scorecard for the World’s Biggest Religions

When we find ET, which faiths will bend, and which will snap?

By David A. Weintraub

Illustrations by Tianhua Mao

Listening for Extraterrestrial Blah Blah

At the cosmic dinner party, intelligence is the loudest thing in the room.

By Laurance R. Doyle

Illustrations by Tianhua Mao

Is Physical Law an Alien Intelligence?

Alien life could be so advanced it becomes indistinguishable from physics.

By Caleb Scharf

Illustration by Tianhua Mao

Will ET Drink Water?

The intricate compatibility of water and life on Earth may not extend to other planets.

By Philip Ball

Illustration by Brian Stauffer

Why Aliens and Volcanoes Go Together

Life on other planets may rely on plate tectonics.

By Steve Nadis

Illustration by Jonathon Rosen

The Surprising Importance of Stratospheric Life

The science of bacteria in the atmosphere is getting its moment in the sun.

By Chelsea Wald