By Ben Pauley Alien planets, such as the water-barren desert world of Arrakis from the Dune novels and films or the rebel base on the ice world of Hoth from Star Wars, are a staple of science fiction that push the boundaries of what we, as humans, consider habitable. But in our imaginings, these worlds often orbit around stars fairly similar to the one in our own system. Less explored is the possibility of strange, alien worlds around stars that […]

By María José Ramírez The search for extraterrestrial life has been one of humanity’s greatest drives. Since ancient times, we have wondered: is Earth the only planet with life? This question has been a topic of conversation and study for thousands of years, especially considering the harsh and vastly different conditions found on other planets. But what if the answer isn’t as far away as we may think? What if, on our own planet, there are organisms capable of shedding […]

By Livian Von Dran The proverb “like a moth to a flame” refers to an attraction to something harmful—dangerous, even. The phrase stems from the apparent fixation moths have with light, to the point of memetic notoriety. This stereotype holds some truth for one reason: light pollution. Known to disproportionately impact nocturnal insects, this unconventional form of pollution manifests itself as artificial light that exceeds the natural light levels seen in the surrounding environment.9 Moths and butterflies are insects that […]

By Afra Beyza Coşkun “Why do we waste so much money on space when we have so many problems here on Earth?” is a question that often arises with genuine curiosity — and sometimes with frustration. Considering the numerous significant problems worldwide, such as poverty, inadequate healthcare systems, and rising global temperatures, the concern is understandable. Yet, there are compelling reasons why investing in space exploration is not only justifiable but essential. First, exploring space is not a distraction from […]

Written by Aruna Devi TM With the now-regular news of space missions launching or the billions being invested in space exploration or new developments in the space industry, it feels natural for some people to wonder: shouldn’t we be focusing on problems here on Earth first? With climate change accelerating, healthcare systems strained, and poverty affecting millions, a resounding cry we hear often falls along the lines of “why are we spending so much money looking up at the stars?” […]

Even if we don’t find life, we’ll finally be able to say how rare—or how common—it really might be. What if we spend decades building advanced telescopes to search for life on other planets and come up empty-handed? A recent study led by ETH Zurich researchers including corresponding author, Dr. Daniel Angerhausen (an affiliate of both BMSIS and the SETI Institute), tackled this question, exploring what we can learn about life in the universe—even if we don’t detect signs of […]

By Graham Lau (BMSIS Senior Research Investigator) Units of measurement are essential tools for understanding and navigating our place in the universe. They give us frames of reference when communicating our ideas to each other—from simple ideas like how much flour to add for a bread recipe and how fast you’re allowed to drive without getting in trouble to more complex ideas like understanding the rate of expansion of the universe or calculating how much fuel a spacecraft needs to […]

Taylor is a PhD student in Biophysics at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where she does research in astrobiology, microbiology, and bioengineering. Her research focuses on extremophiles, particularly halophiles, and their interactions with viruses in Mars analog environments. She also investigates halophilic fungi and uses nanopores to gain insights into microbial life and potential applications for future space missions.