Are we alone in the universe?

The question of whether life exists beyond Earth is one of the most profound and enduring scientific and philosophical inquiries. While we have yet to discover conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life, the vastness of the universe and the existence of exoplanets in habitable zones make the possibility of life elsewhere intriguing. The search for extraterrestrial life includes the exploration of Mars, the study of extremophiles on Earth, the search for microbial life in our solar system and beyond, and the analysis of distant exoplanets for potential biosignatures. The answer to this question has profound implications for our understanding of life’s place in the cosmos and our place in the universe.