Exoplanets and the Search for Life in the Universe - With Chris Impey

This talk explores the science behind searching for life beyond Earth, from defining life and assessing planetary habitability to finding exoplanets and detecting possible life. It also considers Mars, nomad planets, and the question of whether we are alone in the universe.

Syllabus

Intro – the search for life in the universe
How do we define life?
What about artificial intelligence and robot life?
Is there life on Mars, or other planets near us?
Searching for exoplanets
Are any exoplanets habitable by life?
What would it like on other planets?
How many habitable worlds might there be?
Nomad planets sailing through space
How would we find life on other planets?
Are we alone in the universe?
The analogy between technology and biology development
Imagining an Earth-like planet