The search for life

Finding new worlds

Chapter 1

The first discoveries

Chapter 2

Shadows and wobbles

Chapter 3

Extreme and bizarre worlds

Chapter 4

The search for life

YOUR GOAL

Master of Finding new worlds

Ch 4 · The search for life

artiteacher The search for life

Looking up into the night, A universe of stars, Over six thousand new planets revealed!

artiteacher Sniffing alien atmospheres

Sniffing alien atmospheres

artiteacher Space telescopes analyze starlight passing through a planet's atmosphere to identify gases like oxygen and water vapor.

The seven sisters of TRAPPIST

artiteacher The TRAPPIST-1 system contains seven Earth-sized planets, three of which reside in the habitable zone.

Planet Peekaboo

BETA

artiteacher Sort star signals to learn how new planets are found.

Fun Fact

TRAPPIST-1 travel: The seven planets of TRAPPIST-1 are so close together that from one, you could easily see the geographical features of the others.

Gossip

Do you think we will find alien life in your lifetime?

Quiz

Why is finding methane and oxygen together in an exoplanet's atmosphere considered a strong biosignature?

artiteacher The Goldilocks zone

Quiz

What scientific technique allows telescopes to analyze the chemical composition of an exoplanet's atmosphere?

artiteacher The seven sisters of TRAPPIST

Quiz

Which upcoming NASA space telescope is designed to block starlight to directly image habitable exoplanets?

artiteacher The next generation of hunters

Quiz

How many Earth-sized planets orbit the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1?

Quiz

What type of star is TRAPPIST-1, the host of seven Earth-sized planets?

Quiz

How far away is the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system from Earth?

Quiz

Which space telescope, launched in late 2021, is currently analyzing the atmospheres of distant exoplanets?

Quiz

What is another common name for a star's habitable zone where liquid water can exist?