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Extremophiles are organisms that can live in extreme environmental conditions. Studying them helps astrobiologists understand the potential for life on other planets.

Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It involves the overlap of astronomy, biology, physics, and geology.

Biosignatures are any phenomena, substances, or structures that provide scientific evidence of past or present life. They are pivotal in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Panspermia is the hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, planetoids, or potentially by spacecraft in the form of unintended contamination by microorganisms.

The habitable zone is the range of orbits around a star within which a planetary surface can support liquid water given sufficient atmospheric pressure. It's crucial for the existence of life as we know it.

The Drake Equation is a probabilistic argument used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy.

The Miller-Urey Experiment simulated early Earth conditions and demonstrated that organic compounds could be formed spontaneously by simulating the conditions of Earth's early atmosphere.

Exoplanets are planets located outside of our solar system. Their study is important in astrobiology for understanding the potential habitability of other worlds.

The Kepler Space Telescope was a NASA mission designed to survey a portion of our region of the Milky Way to discover Earth-size exoplanets in or near habitable zones.

ALH84001 is a Martian meteorite discovered in Antarctica. Debate over potential microfossils within it sparked significant interest and research into life on Mars.

Enceladus is a moon of Saturn known for its active geysers emanating from an ocean under the icy crust. These geysers are a key focus in the search for evidence of life.

Terraforming is the hypothetical process of modifying a planet's environment to make it habitable for Earth-like life. This concept is often explored in both astrobiology and science fiction.

Europa is one of Jupiter's moons and is a primary candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life due to its subsurface ocean, which could potentially harbor life.

LUCA represents the most recent common ancestor of all current life on Earth. It suggests that all life is related, which informs astrobiology about the potential pathways life might take on other worlds.

Stellar nucleosynthesis describes the process by which heavier elements are created inside stars by nuclear fusion. It's important in astrobiology as it provides the building blocks for life.

The RNA World Hypothesis suggests that early life forms may have used RNA both to store genetic information and to catalyze chemical reactions, as a precursor to the DNA- and protein-based life forms that exist today.

CHONPS stands for Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur, which are the most common elements found in all life on Earth. Their prevalence is fundamental for the study of potential life elsewhere.

Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has a dense atmosphere and lakes of liquid hydrocarbons. It's of interest in astrobiology due to complex organics and possible prebiotic conditions.

Astrochemistry is the study of the chemical compositions and reactions in the universe, and the study of their interaction with radiation. The discipline's insights are essential for understanding the chemical origins of life.

Prebiotic chemistry refers to the naturally occurring chemical processes that precede and permit the formation of life. It includes the synthesis of organic compounds without the intervention of life forms.

Abiotic synthesis involves the formation of biological compounds in the absence of any known biological process or life form. This concept helps understand how life's building blocks could arise on other worlds.

The Circumstellar Habitable Zone, often synonymous with the habitable zone, refers to the region around a star where conditions might be right to support liquid water, and thus life, on a planet's surface.

Astroecology combines the principles of ecology with astrobiology to investigate the relationship between living organisms and their space environment. It imagines how ecosystems might function on other planets or moons.

Zodiacal dust consists of tiny dust grains distributed throughout the solar system. The study of this dust can provide insights into the composition of celestial bodies and the potential delivery of organic material to Earth and other worlds.