Bugs in space: astrobiology and the search for life outside our planet

摘要

Are we alone in the universe? This question has haunted our minds and imaginations since the dawn of mankind and is arguably one of the final frontiers of science. Microbiology is bringing us closer than ever to finally getting an answer. The search for life outside our own planet is the object of astrobiology – a relatively recent crossdisciplinary research field bringing together bio-, geo- and planetary scientists, which is heavily linked with microbiology and the study of extreme environments.