Life Beyond Earth

After four billion years of life on Earth, one species is altering the planet to make it less habitable. That same species is also poised to leave the planet and live on other worlds. As we contemplate life off-Earth we’re also making rapid progress in our search for life beyond Earth. The lecture will look at the trajectory of life on Earth, and what our planet can tell us about the likelihood of life on the many exoplanets that are being discovered. It will address the most profound questions we can ask about our place in the universe: Are we alone? The search for life beyond Earth will inform how we live on this planet. As T.S. Eliot wrote: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”