Investigating the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe demands an interdisciplinary approach. The Space Show encompasses the Physical, Earth and Planetary, and Life sciences. The Search for Life: Are We Alone? draws on perspectives from each of these scientific disciplines to consider where extraterrestrial life might exist, and in what form.

Physical Science
There appears to be a staggering number of possible planets outside our solar system.

Stars are enormous spheres of hot gas that produce light and energy through nuclear reactions in their cores. Many stars may have planets, or large bodies that revolve (orbit) around them, held in orbit by their parent star's gravity—an attractive force between two bodies due to their masses.

Our solar system consists of the Sun (a star), the planets, asteroids, and other bodies under the influence of the Sun's gravity.

Stars reside in galaxies, that is, collections of hundreds of billions of stars revolving around a common center. All the stars in our sky, including the Sun, are part of the Milky Way galaxy.

The first exoplanet, a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, was discovered in 1995. Exoplanets provide possible habitats for extraterrestrial life. Some may orbit at just the right distance from their star to retain an atmosphere with temperatures and pressure that permit liquid water to exist. Exoplanets may also have moons, or natural satellites, on which conditions suitable for life may exist.

Astronomers searched for and discovered exoplanets by observing that some stars exhibit a tiny wobbling in their motion. This wobbling is caused by the gravitational influence of the exoplanets on the star. Scientists obtained this data by studying the light, or electromagnetic waves, emitted by the star.

New York State Science Standards covered:

  The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by the principles of relative motion and perspective.
  Observe and describe the transmission of various forms of energy.

Earth and Planetary Science
The same process that formed Earth formed other worlds.

Two processes were involved in the Earth's formation: condensation and accretion. Condensation occurs when gas cools and changes to liquid. The liquid molecules stick to dust grains and form solid particles. Accretion takes place when dust-sized or larger particles clump together to form increasingly massive objects.

All life as we know it needs liquid water to survive, so good places to look for life in our solar system are places where we may find water.

Liquid water can only exist on the surface of worlds not too close or too far from a star—too close and water evaporates, too far and water freezes.

Water cannot exist in liquid form on the surface of Mars for an extended period of time. However, water may exist in liquid form within the Martian crust. Liquid water may also exist under the frozen surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter.

New York State Science Standards covered:

  Energy and matter interact through forces that result in changes in motion.
  Describe current theories about the origin of the universe and solar system.

Life Science
Life is tougher than we thought.

Microbial life has existed on Earth longer than animal and plant life. It is the most common type of life on Earth.

Extraterrestrial life may likely be microscopic.

Known living organisms require liquid water and a source of energy.

Life survives in environments in which humans would not be able to exist.

The evolution of terrestrial life is intimately connected to the evolution of Earth.

New York State Science Standards covered:

  Living things are both similar to and different from each other and nonliving things.
  Individual organisms and species change over time.
  Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life.