An instrument on the Europa Clipper mission might be able to detect biological cells from space.
Determining whether or not life exists on another planet is an extraordinarily complicated – and expensive – scientific endeavor.
While NASA rovers on the surface of Mars look for hints of life, researchers back on Earth are studying ‘echoes of life’ from ancient basins – hoping that the two sites might be similar.
Some space rocks you can get for free – if you know how to identify them. Rarer materials cost more, and the asteroid sample NASA just brought back has a high price tag.
Life on Earth has dramatically changed the chemistry of the planet. Astronomers will measure light that bounces off distant planets to look for similar clues that they host life.
There's a good reason why so many scientists disagree with claims that Earth has been visited by aliens.
Methane gas in the atmosphere is a tantalising hint suggesting that life could exists on Mars.
OSIRIS-REx will touch down on asteroid Bennu, collect a sample of the dust and begin its journey back to Earth, where scientists will study it, hoping to learn secrets of the solar system's origin.
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