Extraterrestrial life[n 1] is life that does not originate from Earth.

It is als
o called alien life, or, if it is a sentient and/or relatively complex individua
l, an "extraterrestrial" or "alien" (or, to avoid confusion with the legal sense
of "alien", a "space alien"). These as-yet-hypothetical life forms range from s
imple bacteria-like organisms to beings with civilizations far more advanced tha
n humanity. Although many scientists expect extraterrestrial life to exist, ther
e is no unambiguous evidence for its existence so far.[1][2] The science of extr
aterrestrial life is known as exobiology.
The science of astrobiology considers life on Earth as well, and in the broader
astronomical context. In 2015, "remains of biotic life" were found in 4.1 billio
n-year-old rocks in Western Australia, when the young Earth was about 400 millio
n years old.[3][4] According to one of the researchers, "If life arose relativel
y quickly on Earth, then it could be common in the universe."[3]
Since the mid-20th century, there has been an ongoing search for signs of extrat
errestrial intelligence, from radios used to detect possible extraterrestrial si
gnals, to telescopes used to search for potentially habitable extrasolar planets
.[5] It has also played a major role in works of science fiction. Over the years
, science fiction works, especially Hollywood's involvement, has increased the p
ublic's interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Some encourage agg
ressive methods to try to get in contact with life in outer space, whereas other
s argue that it might be dangerous to actively call attention to Earth.[6][7]
Contents [hide]
1
Background
2
Possible basis
2.1
Biochemistry
3
Planetary habitability in the Solar System
3.1
Mars
3.2
Ceres
3.3
Jupiter system
3.3.1 Jupiter
3.3.2 Europa
3.4
Saturn system
3.4.1 Enceladus
3.4.2 Titan
3.5
Small Solar System bodies
4
Scientific search
4.1
Direct search
4.2
Indirect search
4.3
Extrasolar planets
5
The Drake equation
6
Cultural impact
6.1
Cosmic pluralism
6.2
Early modern period
6.3
19th century
6.4
20th century
6.5
Recent history
7
See also
8
Notes
9
References
10
Further reading
11
External links
Background[edit]
Nature timeline
discuss
edit
view
-13 -12
-11
-10
-9
-8 -7
-6 -5
-4 -3
-2 -1
0
cosmic expansion
Earliest light
cosmic speed-up
Solar System
water

Simple life
photosynthesis
Complex life
Land life
Earliest gravity
?
Earliest universe
(-13.8)
?
Earliest galaxy
?
Earliest quasar
?
Omega Centauri forms
?
Andromeda Galaxy forms
?
Milky Way Galaxy
spiral arms form
?
North Star forms
?
Alpha Centauri forms
?
Earliest Earth
(-4.54)
?
Earliest life
?
Earliest oxygen
?
Atmospheric oxygen
?
Earliest sexual reproduction
?
Earliest land life
?
Earliest humans
L
I
F
E
P
R
I
M
O
R
D

I
A
L
Axis scale: Billions of years.
also see {{Life timeline}}
Alien life, such as microorganisms, has been hypothesized to exist in the Solar
System and throughout the universe. This hypothesis relies on the vast size and
consistent physical laws of the observable universe. According to this argument,
made by scientists such as Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking,[8] it would be impro
bable for life not to exist somewhere other than Earth.[9][10] This argument is
embodied in the Copernican principle, which states that Earth does not occupy a
unique position in the Universe, and the mediocrity principle, which states that
there is nothing special about life on Earth.[11] The chemistry of life may hav
e begun shortly after the Big Bang, 13.8 billion years ago, during a habitable e
poch when the universe was only 10 17 million years old.[12][13] Life may have eme
rged independently at many places throughout the universe. Alternatively, life m
ay have formed less frequently, then spread by meteoroids, for example between habit
able planets in a process called panspermia.[14][15] In any case, complex organi
c molecules may have formed in the protoplanetary disk of dust grains surroundin
g the Sun before the formation of Earth.[16] According to these studies, this pr
ocess may occur outside Earth on several planets and moons of the Solar System a
nd on planets of other stars.[16]
Since the 1950s, scientists have argued the idea that "habitable zones" around s
tars are the most likely places to find life. Numerous discoveries in these zone
s since 2007 have generated estimations of frequencies of Earth-like planets in t
erms of composition numbering in the many billions[17] though as of 2013, only a
small number of planets have been discovered in these zones.[18] Nonetheless, on
November 4, 2013, astronomers reported, based on Kepler space mission data, tha
t there could be as many as 40 billion Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habit
able zones of Sun-like stars and red dwarfs in the Milky Way,[19][20] 11 billion
of which may be orbiting Sun-like stars.[21] The nearest such planet may be 12
light-years away, according to the scientists.[19][20] Astrobiologists have also
considered a "follow the energy" view of potential habitats.[22][23]
Possible basis[edit]
Biochemistry[edit]
Main articles: Biochemistry, Hypothetical types of biochemistry and Water and li
fe
It is often hypothesized that life forms elsewhere in the universe would, like l
ife on Earth, be based on carbon chemistry and rely on liquid water. Life forms
based on ammonia (rather than water) have been suggested, though this solvent ap
pears less suitable than water. It is also conceivable that there are forms of l
ife whose solvent is a liquid hydrocarbon, such as methane, ethane or propane.[2
4]
About 29 chemical elements are thought to play an active positive role in living
organisms on Earth.[25] About 95% of this living matter is built upon only six
elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. These six e
lements form the basic building blocks of virtually all life on Earth, whereas m
ost of the remaining elements are found only in trace amounts.[26] The unique ch
aracteristics of carbon made it unlikely that any other element could replace ca
rbon, even on another planet, to generate the biochemistry necessary for life. T
he carbon atom has the unique ability to make four strong chemical bonds with ot
her atoms, including other carbon atoms. These covalent bonds have a direction i
n space, so that carbon atoms can form the skeletons of complex 3-dimensional st
ructures with definite architectures such as nucleic acids and proteins. Carbon
forms more compounds than all other elements combined. The great versatility of
the carbon atom makes it the element most likely to provide the bases even exotic
ones to the chemical composition of life on other planets.[27]

Life on Earth requires water as its solvent in which biochemical reactions take
place. Sufficient quantities of carbon and the other elements along with water,
may enable the formation of living organisms on other planets with a chemical ma
ke-up and temperature range similar to that of Earth.[28] Terrestrial planets su
ch as Earth are formed in a process that allows for the possibility of having co
mpositions similar to Earth's.[29] The combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxyge
n in the chemical form of carbohydrates (e.g. sugar) can be a source of chemical
energy on which life depends, and can provide structural elements for life. Pla
nts derive energy through the conversion of light energy into chemical energy vi
a photosynthesis. Life, as currently recognized, requires carbon in both reduced
(methane derivatives) and partially oxidized (carbon oxides) states. Nitrogen i
s needed as a reduced ammonia derivative in all proteins, sulfur as a derivative
of hydrogen sulfide in some necessary proteins, and phosphorus oxidized to phos
phates in genetic material and in energy transfer.
Planetary habitability in the Solar System[edit]
See also: Planetary habitability and Habitability of natural satellites
Some bodies in the Solar System have the potential for an environment in which e
xtraterrestrial life can live, particularly those with possible subsurface ocean
s.[30] Should life be discovered elsewhere in the Solar System, astrobiologists
suggest that it will more likely be in the form of extremophile microorganisms.
Mars may have niche subsurface environme