Theory Nexus

Possible article: The search for life beyond Earth has fascinated and inspired human imagination for centuries. From the ancient myths of gods and goddesses descending from the sky to the modern science and technology of astrobiology and exoplanetary exploration, the quest for extraterrestrial life reflects our deepest curiosity, creativity, and cosmology. Despite the vastness of the universe and the diversity of celestial objects, our current understanding of life is based on a single example: Earth. Therefore, we are not sure whether life is a cosmic rarity or a common occurrence, whether it requires Earth-like conditions or can adapt to extreme environments, or whether it uses the same biochemical and genetic mechanisms or has evolved different ones. To address these questions, scientists have turned to the exploration of our solar system, particularly the icy moons of the gas giants, which harbor hidden oceans of liquid water that could be harboring life. Europa and Enceladus are ...