Astronomers can use telescopes to find specific molecules in the atmospheres of neighboring planets, in nebulae – clouds of interstellar dust and gas – hundreds or thousands of light-years away, or in ...

An artist's conception of Pandora observing an exoplanet.NASA Editor at Large It was one of humanity’s greater vanities that we ever questioned whether there are any planets in the universe beyond the ...

For life to develop on a planet, two chemical elements are needed in sufficient quantities: phosphorus and nitrogen. Phosphorus is vital for the formation of DNA and RNA. Nitrogen is an essential ...

They’ve obscured alien worlds from us for years, but clouds could turn out to be where the first hints of extraterrestrial life finally appear ...

The colours of microbes that live in clouds high in the sky have been measured for the first time, giving scientists clues that could help us find life on other planets. A diverse range of ...

In a blow to anyone dreaming that complex life may exist elsewhere in the universe, a new study suggests we're unlikely to find it around many of the most common stars in the galaxy. Earth-like ...

Over the past decade, scientists have come up with a variety of frameworks to guide their search for life in the universe. While it’s most convenient to start looking for life using the knowledge that ...