Do you think we are alone in the universe?

This image, produced in 1995 by the Hubble Space Telescope, suggests that the visible universe comprises at least ~130 thousand million galaxies. Each of these galaxies contains something in the order of 100 thousand million stars. Recent estimates suggest that there may exist an average of more than one planet per star. 

At least once, this chemistry and physics has given rise to sentient life. What are the chances that it happened more than once? What about other types of life? How could we possibly know?

INDS430 Astrobiology combines physics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology to ask what science can contribute to such questions. If you want to learn about the discovery of planets orbiting other stars (“exoplanets”), the chemistry of space, the originand evolution of life on Earth, or habitable environments within our solar system this course is for you!

If interested in the course then please contact Dr. Stephen Freeland at
freeland@umbc.edu