5.4.4. Exobiology
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5.4.4. Exobiology
Use the future to build the present
Exobiology
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1.1Advanced AI1.2QuantumRevolution1.3UnconventionalComputing1.4AugmentedReality1.5CollectiveIntelligence2.1CognitiveEnhancement2.2HumanApplicationsof GeneticEngineering2.3HealthspanExtension2.4ConsciousnessAugmentation2.5Organoids2.6FutureTherapeutics3.1Decarbonisation3.2EarthSystemsModelling3.3FutureFoodSystems3.4SpaceResources3.5OceanStewardship3.6SolarRadiationModification3.7InfectiousDiseases4.1Science-basedDiplomacy4.2Advancesin ScienceDiplomacy4.3Foresight,Prediction,and FuturesLiteracy4.4Democracy-affirmingTechnologies5.1ComplexSystemsScience5.2Futureof Education5.3Future Economics,Trade andGlobalisation5.4The Scienceof theOrigins of Life5.5SyntheticBiology
1.1Advanced AI1.2QuantumRevolution1.3UnconventionalComputing1.4AugmentedReality1.5CollectiveIntelligence2.1CognitiveEnhancement2.2HumanApplicationsof GeneticEngineering2.3HealthspanExtension2.4ConsciousnessAugmentation2.5Organoids2.6FutureTherapeutics3.1Decarbonisation3.2EarthSystemsModelling3.3FutureFoodSystems3.4SpaceResources3.5OceanStewardship3.6SolarRadiationModification3.7InfectiousDiseases4.1Science-basedDiplomacy4.2Advancesin ScienceDiplomacy4.3Foresight,Prediction,and FuturesLiteracy4.4Democracy-affirmingTechnologies5.1ComplexSystemsScience5.2Futureof Education5.3Future Economics,Trade andGlobalisation5.4The Scienceof theOrigins of Life5.5SyntheticBiology

Sub-Field:

5.4.4Exobiology

    There is currently no good evidence of life or fossil life on other worlds in the solar system, let alone on exoplanets in other solar systems. As a result, we only have one living system to study, rendering it extremely difficult to make general statements about what life is or what it requires.

    That may change as we continue exploring other worlds in the solar system using robotic vehicles, and potentially crewed spacecraft. Even if no living organisms are found on other worlds, our investigations will shed light on the processes of prebiotic chemistry and primordial geochemistry.25 The planet Mars, and the moons Europa, Enceladus and Titan, all have or had environmental conditions similar to parts of Earth. Future missions such as ExoMars and Europa Clipper will provide information about processes that are likely to have taken place on the young Earth.

    A key challenge for the coming decades will be to send out sample-return missions that can bring high-quality samples back to Earth for detailed study. Because of the long development process for deep space missions, such a project would likely take more than 25 years to come to fruition.

    The prospects for discovering life beyond the solar system remain remote. It is theoretically possible to find indirect evidence of life on an exoplanet, for example by detecting the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere through spectroscopic analysis. However, the technical challenges are considerable. Even if they are overcome, there is also the problem of interpretation: on Earth, oxygen is only produced by living organisms, but it is difficult if not impossible to rule out abiotic processes.26 This problem has already bedevilled researchers who detected methane on Mars and phosphine on Venus, and will be far worse when dealing with distant exoplanets for which information is more limited.27

    Future Horizons:

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    5-yearhorizon

    Mars gives clues to Earth-like prebiotic chemistry

    Data from Perseverance rover on Mars indicates Earth-like prebiotic chemistry billions of years ago.

    10-yearhorizon

    Solvents for life better understood

    We have good evidence on whether water is the only possible solvent for life. The James Webb Space Telescope has given useful information about the conditions in which terrestrial planets formed, and the abundance of specific organics in these conditions.

    25-yearhorizon

    Mars sample return planned

    Examples of life or fossil life on other worlds are found, helping to expand or clarify our definition of life. A plan for a high-quality sample return mission to Mars is drawn up.

    Exobiology - Anticipation Scores

    How the experts see this field in terms of the expected time to maturity, transformational effect across science and industries, current state of awareness among stakeholders and its possible impact on people, society and the planet. See methodology for more information.

    GESDA Best Reads and Key Resources