It has become such common advice that few question it. But rather than inspirational, it can feel like a burden. How do I go about finding this and what if I never do? This is “purpose anxiety” – the ...

This April, news reports linked the stinky gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet called K2-18b to possible life on it. The reports, prompted by work led by astronomer ...

The skepticism and debate around the question of "are we alone in the universe" makes the field of astrobiology more cautious When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate ...

With the recent discovery of traces of what may or may not be or have been life on Mars, eyes are turning to another world in the solar system which might harbor extraterrestrial life. Old data from ...

Organic compounds found in a Martian crater contain building blocks of life, according to a new study.

• Simulate planetary conditions more precisely Future Missions: Europa Clipper, Dragonfly, and Mars Life Explorer will carry tools to detect isotopes and chirality, helping verify whether signs of ...

We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look ahead to the future. In the late 1800s Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli pointed a telescope at Mars ...

WASHINGTON – To advance the search for life in the universe, NASA should support research on a broader range of biosignatures and environments, and incorporate the field of astrobiology into all ...

Scientists are unraveling the mysteries of "steam worlds"—exoplanets known as sub-Neptunes that are rich in water but orbit so close to their stars that their surfaces are shrouded in thick ...

From ancient philosophers pondering the stars to modern scientists scanning distant exoplanets, humanity has long asked one haunting question: Are we alone? When you purchase through links on our site ...