Astrobiologists?

Question

Who founded astrobiology? Who are some other major astrobiologists?

Answer 1

Astrobiology (from Greek: ἀστρο, astro, "constellation"; βίος, bios, "life"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is the interdisciplinary study of life in space, combining aspects of astronomy, biology and geology.[2] It is focused primarily on the study of the origin, distribution and evolution of life. It is also known as exobiology (from Greek: έξω, exo, "outside").[3][4][5] The term "Xenobiology" has been used as well, but this is technically incorrect because its terminology means "biology of the foreigners".[6]

Some major astrobiological research topics include:[2][7][8][9] What is life? How did life arise on Earth? What kind of environments can life tolerate? How can we determine if life exists on other planets? How often can we expect to find complex life? What will life consist of on other planets? Will it be DNA/Carbon based or based on something else?[1] What will it look like?
see link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrobiology

as for astrobiologists:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=astrobiologist+site:nai.arc.nasa.gov

Answer 2

Who founded astrobiology? I imagine it was the first conscious being that realized the stars weren't part of the Earth's ceiling. We as a species have been wondering for years if there is anyone else out there.

I do not know of any astronomers who study nothing but astrobiology, but many are involved in the discussion of life elsewhere.

Dave S. - I'm not sure what you're getting at. This is a scientific-minded question. Besides, what more is there to answer but what is provided in the Wiki entry copied above? I notice a lot of answers lacking from the magical-minded folks as well (yourself included).

Answer 3

Carl Sagan was neither the first nor only - however he would be amongst the most famous.

Harold Urey (chemist) knew a lot about life forms in space, as did Fred Hoyle (physicist), though neither are thought of as astrobiologists. However, either would have been able to talk loud, long and very authoratatively on the subject.

If it really mattered I can find another 3-4 names before needing Google.

Answer 4

It's really hard to separate astrobiology from science-fiction and that isn't really an insult to the astrobiologists. We currently have ZERO information to go on, except conjecture and assumptions, so astro-biology ends up as 'artists impressions'.

Answer 5

Usually in a lab, scientific lab, with scales, glass tubes and flasks, jars, different tanks of gases and chemicals, microscopes, computer and electronic equipment... etc.

Answer 6

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, none of the skeptic super scientists answered this one.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Answer 7

You can probably find out more if you just google it. I did...and there's lots of info on there.