Life Beyond Earth

Locate biology, chemistry and planetary observation questions.

Distinguish possible conditions, actual life and observable evidence.

Compare preserved traces with ongoing biological activity.

Explain which process each candidate would indicate.

State what observation could support or weaken a claim.

Compare coordinated functions rather than isolated molecules.

Connect copying with population-level evolution.

Identify usable matter and solvent roles.

Trace how a living system obtains usable energy.

Compare detection assumptions with proposed alternatives.

Relate pressure and temperature to usable phases.

Compare liquid presence with biochemical availability.

Connect damage rates with shielding and repair possibilities.

Trace sustained donors, acceptors and material exchange.

Compare brief favourable events with long-lived environments.

Distinguish absence of detection from a strong absence claim.

Separate molecular identification from source interpretation.

Compare nonliving mimics with hidden or weak biosignatures.

Require environmental evidence that constrains alternatives.

Revise an inference when support or alternatives change.

Specify candidate gases and the planetary setting.

Record bands, errors and possible missing gases.

Compare sources, sinks and stellar effects.

Revise confidence after new environmental information.

Select evidence that could distinguish remaining alternatives.