astrobiology
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of astrobiology
Explanation
Astrobiology is a branch of science that studies life throughout the universe. If you're fascinated by the possibility of living beings on other planets, you might want to go into astrobiology. Astrobiology is formed by adding astro-, "star," to biology, "the study of life." This field, focusing on the origins, evolution, and future of life in the universe, starts with the assumption that extraterrestrial life probably exists. Astrobiology includes the history of life on our planet, evidence for life elsewhere, and research into making other planets habitable for humans. NASA's Mars missions, which search for signs of life on the red planet, are an example of astrobiology research.
Vocabulary lists containing astrobiology
Elements of the Universe: Aster, Astro ("Star")
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astro, aster
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ast, aster, astro
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
From an astrobiology standpoint, a major task is understanding how these microbial communities behave in Martian regolith and how they endure the planet's many stresses.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026
This concept sits at the meeting point of astrobiology, geochemistry, material science, construction engineering, and robotics.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026
“I did not see myself in an astrobiology lab,” Flores said from her office at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, where she has worked since 2023 as an engineering associate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024
“The astrobiology community is trying to find the perfect biosignature to look for,” says Lena Noack, a geodynamicist of the Free University of Berlin.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 26, 2024
While Hays, deputy program scientist for NASA’s astrobiology program, watched it land, she thought of a different mission — her mission, called Mars Sample Return, or MSR, set to launch later this decade.
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
