The organic molecules could come from life or from ordinary chemistry — only samples returned to Earth can settle it.

A new exoplanet model screens rocky worlds by their ability to retain atmospheres over geologic timescales, helping narrow ...

NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered one of the most intriguing clues yet in humanity's search for life beyond Earth.

A new survey of hundreds of astrobiologists reveals that, despite NASA's high-profile declarations about Mars and exoplanet K2-18b, most experts do not yet think alien life has probably been found.

Scientists say extraterrestrial life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but vast distances, enormous energy requirements ...

A NASA astronaut preparing for a grueling eight-month stint in orbit reveals a plan to test for extraterrestrial life.

A Stanford scientist's model suggests many small rocky planets can't sustain atmospheres, potentially explaining the scarcity ...

Science fiction has thrived in literature over the last half a century, thanks to masterpieces like Hyperion and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Discover six hard sci-fi films where science shapes story and emotion, like Europa Report and The Martian. Brainy, emotional, ...

The surprising discovery of mysterious blobs inside our cells is revolutionising our understanding of how life works, and how ...

The bottom of the ocean has barely been explored, but every journey to the deep reveals wondrous new lifeforms. As underwater mining gains momentum, we risk destroying one of the Earth’s last great wi ...