Powerful telescopes and unmanned space missions have revealed a wide range of dynamic environments—atmospheres thick with organic molecules, active volcanoes, and vast saltwater oceans. This ongoing revolution is forcing scientists to expand their ideas about what kinds of worlds could support life. In NOVA’s Finding Life Beyond Earth, top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system.
The resources below explore questions at the heart of the search for extraterrestrial life, such as “What is life?” and “Where do we find habitable conditions?” in order to encourage a better understanding of the existence of life in our solar system.
For additional classroom resources, download the activity collection of seven hands-on activities that explore questions at the heart of the search for extraterrestrial life. You can also download the solar system poster to use as a visual aid in your classroom.