Astrobiology asks one of the biggest scientific questions: How does life begin, and where could it exist? Our researchers study the conditions that allow life to emerge and persist, from early Earth environments to extreme habitats across the globe. We examine the chemistry of life’s origins, the limits of biological survival, biosignatures, and the potential for life on planets and moons within and beyond our Solar System. Edinburgh is home to long-standing expertise in experimental astrobiology, planetary analogue environments, and microbial evolution—informing space missions, sample analysis, and the search for life elsewhere. This article was published on 2025-12-15
