4 March 2023, Researchers from ETH Zurich, University of Cambridge, and the University of Minnesota offer their collective intelligence on the "Origins of Life: Humanity’s Quest to Discover the Nature of Life in the Universe" during the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Washington DC.
Origins of Life: Humanity’s Quest to Discover the Nature of Life in the Universe
Within a generation, scientists have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets (planets outside of Earth's Solar System) and have predicted the potential existence of trillions more in the Milky Way galaxy alone. Unique from any Earthly frame of reference, each celestial body inspires more questions than answers. In this symposium, organized by ETH Zurich for the AAAS, learn why multidisciplinary networks and international collaborations are converging to decode the origin of life in the universe.
Find out what scientists have learned, so far, from the James Webb Telescope about the chemical composition of some exoplanet atmospheres, and their potential to support the building blocks of life.
Discover how synthetic cells allow biochemists to build cell-like bioreactors that resemble the earliest forms of life, and how such models could determine the conditions needed to support life on a future, colonized planet. Explore the potential use of synthetic cells for sustainable energy systems, increasing crop yields, and for biomedical therapies here on Earth.
Learn how interplanetary investigation could yield biosignatures that reveal whether (or not) the origin of life on Earth is merely a “happy accident” or part of the fundamental nature of evolution, with all of its biological and ecological complexities.
Exoplanets and the Search for Life in the Universe
Until 1995, the Solar System was humanity’s only frame of reference for planetary knowledge. Recently, astrophysicists have discovered thousands of new exoplanets and celestial bodies -- some with the potential to support the building blocks of life and others in which scientists have been able to discern, to a certain degree, the chemical composition of their atmospheres. In this presentation, learn how multidisciplinary collaborations are converging to decode the origin of life in the universe.
Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life, ETH Zurich
What Humanity Could Learn From Extraterrestrial Biosignatures
Devoid of oxygen and steeped in methane, Earth’s early atmosphere showed its first signs of microbial life about 4 billion years ago. Astrobiological insights into life elsewhere comes from how life survives extreme environments and then evolves. Interplanetary investigation could yield biosignatures that reveal whether (or not) the origin of life and evolution on Earth is a “happy accident” or part of the fundamental nature of the universe, with all its biological and ecological complexities.
external page Emily Mitchell's bio
Redefining Evolution and Colonizing Space With Synthetic Cells
While complex biological cells are not yet fully understood, synthetic cells allow biochemists to build simpler, cell-like bioreactors resembling the earliest forms of life. Such models can be used study the past, present, and future of life in the universe, as well as the conditions needed to support life on a future, colonized planet. Synthetic cells also have potential uses in practical applications for humanity: sustainable energy systems, higher crop yields, or biomedical therapies.
One of the most respected science journalists in the United States, if not the world, we are pleased that Carl Zimmer has graciously agreed to moderate ETH Zurich's symposium, "Origins of Life: Humanity’s Quest to Discover the Nature of Life in the Universe" during the 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting. Zimmer is a three-time winner of the AAAS’s Journalism Award, twice for his work for The New York Times and once for his award winning blog, "The Loom." He is also an author, and award winning columnist for The New York Times in which he explores the frontiers of biology, where scientists are expanding our understanding of life.