astrobiology
/ˌæstroʊbaɪˈɒlədʒi/
Definition
The multidisciplinary scientific study of life in the universe, focusing on the origins, evolution, and distribution of life, including research on how biological organisms survive and thrive in space environments.
Etymology
The word is a compound derived from the Greek 'astron' (star) and 'bios' (life), plus the suffix '-logy' (study of). It entered modern scientific English in the mid-20th century to describe the unified study of life as it exists both on Earth and in the cosmos.
In the news
In this article, the term is used as a category header for tracking scientific research, specifically highlighting studies on plant biology, microbiology, and human health in space. It serves as a broad umbrella for life science investigations relevant to long-duration space missions.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,206 2 July 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology Web