Cornell researchers in astrobiology are exploring how life begins, evolves, and survives in the universe through an interdisciplinary approach that connects astronomy, planetary science, biology, and Earth history.
Our scientists work on identifying habitable worlds and understanding the environmental and chemical conditions that support life. Cornell scientists develop models of exoplanet climates and atmospheric biosignatures, studying how light interacting with planetary atmospheres and surfaces could reveal oceans, vegetation, microbial life, or other indicators of biology on distant worlds. Researchers also investigate ancient Earth environments, microbial ecosystems, and the geochemical processes that shaped our own planet’s biosphere, helping to inform the search for life elsewhere. By combining studies of Earth, exoplanets, and planetary environments across the solar system, Cornell’s astrobiology community is advancing our understanding of habitability and humanity’s place in the cosmos.
Related people
Professor
George Feldstein Professor of Astronomy
Benson Jay Simon ’59 MBA ’62 and Mary Ellen Simon MA ’63 Professor
