Alien Life - Will We Know It When We See It?
Explore the multidisciplinary search for extraterrestrial life in this 1 hour 34 minute conference talk from the 2014 World Science Festival. Delve into the perspectives of astronomers, planetary scientists, chemists, computer scientists, and geneticists as they discuss the challenges and possibilities of detecting alien life. Learn about the latest tools and techniques used to find exoplanets, the potential for life in unexpected forms, and the scientific criteria for identifying extraterrestrial organisms. Hear from experts Paul Davies, Sara Seager, Jack Szostak, and others as they examine topics ranging from microbial life to the possibility of ancient Martian inhabitants. Gain insights into the role of water in the search for life, the development of space telescopes, and the study of extremophiles on Earth as a means to understand potential alien communication.