Search for Life On New Planets: Are distant worlds habitable?

With increasing frequency, scientists are finding evidence that planets and moons throughout the universe could be hospitable to life. Nearly 1,800 planets orbiting stars other than the sun have been confirmed since 1995, including more than 700 in February alone. Scientists now conclude that the Milky Way galaxy alone contains a trillion planets, and many believe microbial life, if not intelligent life, exists beyond Earth. Still, finding extraterrestrial life poses enormous challenges. Adequate instruments for observation and sufficient scientific understanding don't yet exist to determine whether distant planets -- or even potentially habitable moons in our own solar system -- harbor life. Moreover, scientists are split on whether sending robots or humans to explore distant worlds is more effective. The biggest challenge for space science, however, may be Washington budget-cutting, which has made it difficult to ensure stable, long-term funding for large scientific projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CQ Researcher is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)