Whispers from other Worlds: NASA's Search for Life in the Cosmos

Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen
Professor and Director ETH Zurich | Space, Zurich, Switzerland.
NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, 2016-2022

Whether life exists beyond Earth is among the most exciting -- and toughest -- mysteries that science can solve. For millennia, humans have wondered whether we were alone in the cosmos, but those musings lived almost exclusively in the realm of philosophy, not science.
Finding life beyond Earth is now one of NASA's most challenging goals, and it is one of the most compelling. We will first frame the discussion of looking for extraterrestrial life in the context of the famed 1961 Drake equation, a framework that connects physical, chemical and biological processes with the development of detectable civilizations within our own galaxy. And, though the Drake equation's original form has survived unchanged, we will highlight some changes in our understanding and definition of the equation's variables -- modifications that are a direct result of our growing understanding of life's tenacity on our home world. Subsequently, our focus will shift towards ongoing and upcoming space missions directed at targets within our solar system. Simultaneously, we will delve into endeavors aimed at identifying potentially habitable worlds orbiting distant stars.

Conference Hall (2nd floor/ Research and Administration Building A),　Via Zoom