The age-old question of whether life exists beyond Earth was the focus of a recent talk given by Valeska Molina, the Regional Science Secretary for the Antofagasta and Atacama regions of Chile, at the Atacama Regional Museum. The event drew families, young people, and the general public in Copiapó to contemplate science, territory, and the universe.
Molina, whose background is in astrobiology, explained how this interdisciplinary field, along with astronomy and planetary science, studies the origin and evolution of life, and the conditions that might allow it to exist on other worlds. The discussion highlighted a growing scientific consensus: the search for extraterrestrial life is no longer relegated to science fiction, but is a rigorous scientific endeavor.
“Being able to explain what astrobiology is, how we define what is alive and what is not, and how we search for that kind of life on other planets was a very rewarding experience,” Molina commented. “We had the presence of children from as young as seven years old, who participated very proactively, which made this a deeply enriching experience for me as a scientist.”
The event underscores a broader trend of bringing scientific concepts to the public, particularly to inspire the next generation. As Molina noted, these initiatives aim to communicate science and motivate young people to consider careers in STEM fields. “We not only share what we do as scientists, but also open paths and create spaces for girls, boys, and young people to envision themselves in these areas,” she added.
The Atacama Desert, where the talk took place, plays a crucial role in this search. Romina Figueroa, director of the Atacama Regional Museum, emphasized the museum’s role as a strategic space for knowledge dissemination. “The importance of scientific outreach in spaces like the museum is fundamental, because it helps to democratize knowledge with the different audiences that visit us,” Figueroa stated. “It also helps to build bridges for the community to understand the Atacama territory as a true natural laboratory, in this case through astronomy and the talk we just heard.”
The Atacama Desert’s extreme aridity and unique soil chemistry make it a valuable analog for the Martian environment. NASA’s Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) project, initiated in 2016 and running through 2019, has been conducting field tests in the region. The project, utilizing the K-REX2 rover designed at NASA’s Ames Research Center, aims to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous roving, drilling, and life detection – capabilities considered essential for future Mars exploration missions. The desert’s conditions, while warmer than Mars, closely mimic the Red Planet’s current state, having once been a more temperate environment itself.
The search for life beyond Earth has evolved significantly in recent decades. Early efforts, like the Viking 1 and 2 missions in the 1970s, attempted to directly detect life on Mars, but results were inconclusive. However, the discovery of thousands of exoplanets – planets orbiting stars other than our sun – has dramatically expanded the potential locations where life might exist. NASA’s current and upcoming missions are focused on identifying habitable environments and searching for biosignatures, indicators of past or present life.
A key aspect of this search is understanding the limits of life as we know it. Research on extremophiles – organisms that thrive in extreme environments on Earth – has revealed that life can exist under conditions previously thought impossible. These organisms, such as thermophiles flourishing in near-boiling conditions and halophiles thriving in highly saline environments, have broadened the definition of habitability. This understanding informs the search for life on other planets and moons, including those with subsurface oceans like Europa and Titan.
Alejandro Murillo, a microbiologist and director of CIC UDA, who attended the talk, highlighted the relevance of the Atacama Desert’s unique environments. “The relevance of this talk has to do with how to convey to people the importance of some environments in Atacama, which may have this type of extreme microbial life and which one can look for as a model of life on other planets.” This underscores the importance of studying Earth’s extreme environments as analogs for potential extraterrestrial habitats.
NASA’s astrobiology program invests in understanding the origins, evolution, and limits of life on Earth, using this knowledge to guide the search for life elsewhere. Past missions have laid the groundwork, while current missions are actively exploring potentially habitable environments. Future missions are planned to further refine the search and develop new technologies for detecting biosignatures. The overarching goal remains the same: to answer the fundamental question of whether we are alone in the universe.
The event at the Atacama Regional Museum also included a tour for Molina, allowing her to learn more about the museum’s work in preserving and interpreting the region’s cultural and natural heritage. This visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between scientific institutions and cultural organizations in promoting scientific literacy and inspiring future generations of scientists.
