Question

What is the relationship between scientists’ definition of life and their ability to identify it on other planets?

Answer 1

Scientists have hundreds of potential definitions for life and their definitions often vary by the field of science that they are in.

Many scientists do agree on a basic definition of “life” as being able to reproduce, grow, and have continual change. Scientists are not exactly sure how life “begins”, but it is asserted that scientists will be most likely to find life, if life is dependent upon a water supply to thrive, in zones where liquid water or water vapor can exist on its surface. If there is the ability for life to thrive on other entities besides planet Earth using gases, where humans cannot survive, it will be harder to find these instances of life.