Pillars of Research: The Toolkit to Find Life in the Universe

Atmospheric Spectral Signals and Biosignatures

We focus on modeling planets and moons orbiting other stars than the Sun, for future atmosphere follow-up, focussing on Super-Earths and potentially habitable worlds (rocky terrestrial planets of 0.5-2 Earth radii) including objects orbiting in the “Habitable Zones” around their host stars.


Affiliated Team Members

Image of Alice Nadeau

Alice Nadeau

NSF Postdoctoral Associate (Visiting Assistant Professor)

Planets in the Habitable Zone

We model the Habitable Zone for a wide range of stars and atmospheric compositions and identify the known planets in it as priority targets to search for life.

Affiliated Team Members

Life on Earth as our Rosetta Stone

We use Earth biota as a Rosetta Stone for the search for life on other worlds, including creating a catalog of biopigment to be observed with missions that can collect reflected planetary light like the Habitable World Observatory. We also include life forms that are called “extreme” on our own planet, but could be dominant on other worlds. We develop observing strategies and mission concepts for future searches.

Affiliated Team Members

Image of Buz Barstow

Buz Barstow

Assistant Professor, Biological & Environmental Engr

Image of Rosa Santomartino

Rosa Santomartino

Visiting Assistant Professor, CALS Biological and Environmental Engineering

Image of Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes

Jennifer and Albert Sohn Professor, Director, Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Director of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility

Planetary System Formation, Migration and Evolution

We use Earth and Solar System input of evolution of solid planets and moons, including features that shape their surfaces (e.g., volcanism), to model and study a wide range of possible planets and moons inside and outside our own Solar System.

Affiliated Team Members

Image of Dong Lai

Dong Lai

Benson Jay Simon ’59 MBA ’62 and Mary Ellen Simon MA ’63 Professor - On Leave AY 25-26

Technological Development, Missions and their Influence on Humanity

We look at new approaches to space exploration, including technologies that may enable robotic missions to another solar system, cube sats, and robotic eels, and their influence on humanity.

Affiliated Team Members

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John Carruthers

Director of Graduate Studies, Regional Science; Associate Professor, AAP-City and Regional Planning

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Greg Pass

Professor of Practice of Operations, Technology, & Information Management

Image of Elaine Petro

Elaine Petro

Assistant Professor, Sibley School of Mechanical Aerospace Engineering

Search for Habitable Environments in our Solar System

We explore the Solar System to understand how giant planets and their moons form and evolve, to search for habitable environments on and within moons (like Enceladus, Europa and Titan), and to examine the farthest bodies in the solar system for clues to the early history of the solar system. We also examine Earth and Solar System input of geophysical fluid dynamics and thermal evolution of solid planets, and the tectonic, glacial, and volcanic features that shape their surfaces to model and study a wide range of possible planets and moons inside and outside our own Solar System.

Affiliated Team Members

Image of Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes

Jennifer and Albert Sohn Professor, Director, Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Director of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility

Technosignatures as Signs of Life

We explore the idea of technosignatures and how to find advanced, technological life in the cosmos, including SETI but also alternative observation strategies.

Affiliated Team Members

Image of Buz Barstow

Buz Barstow

Assistant Professor, Biological & Environmental Engr

Using Machine Learning to Search for Signs of Life

We explore how to best use Machine Learning to search for Life in the Cosmos.

Affiliated Team Members

Share and Communicate the Excitement of the Search for Life

We explore how to share the excitement of the search for life in the universe with everyone, including schools, the public, music concerts, dance, pub astro events, etc. Come share your ideas with us to reach as many people as we can to share the excitement.

Affiliated Team Members

Image of Mark Akos Sarvary

Mark Akos Sarvary

Stephen H. Weiss Provost's Teaching Fellow, Director of the Investigative Biology Teaching Laboratories

Image of Steven Strogatz

Steven Strogatz

Susan and Barton Winokur Distinguished Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Mathematics, Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow

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