Atmosphere
Life on Earth
James Van Allen
scientific instrument package (Rockoon).
Credit: NASA
Occupation: Space Scientist
Year born: 1914
Life on Earth
Credit: LadyofHats
Life on Earth has taken billions of years to evolve. Life is characterised as anything which has the following traits:
Locating Life
Is there life on other planets? To find out, scientists have developed novel ways to search for life on other planets. Searching within our own Solar System and beyond. Two of the techniques they use are:
Atmospheric Biomarkers
Atmospheres
International Space Station (ISS)
Credit: NASA
An Atmosphere is a thin layer of gas which surrounds a planet or moon. The gravity of a planet or moon holds the Atmosphere in place. Small planets and moons have low mass and a weak gravitational pull. This means they tend not to hold onto an atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect
Credit: Oliver Dixon
A greenhouse works by allowing the heat from the Sun to go straight in through its glass windows. Once inside this heat energy is then trapped by the glass. This makes the greenhouse get hotter.
