Learn about the origin and evolution of life and the search for life beyond the Earth.
Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Offered By
The University of Edinburgh
About this Course
12,014 recent views
Skills you will gain
BiologySolar SystemsMicrobiologyAstrobiology
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Life and Its Origins
What is life and what are the definitions of life? What do we know about the origin of life and what are the current hypotheses for how it originated on the Earth?
10 videos (Total 132 min), 3 quizzes
10 videos
Welcome1m
Introduction17m
History of Astrobiology20m
What is Life?20m
Life on Earth13m
Structure of Life: Building Blocks9m
Structure of LIfe: Cells14m
Origins of Life: Building Blocks11m
Origins of Life: Location11m
Origins of Life: Alternative Chemistries11m
3 practice exercises
Introduction and History of Astrobiology20m
Life: The Basics40m
Origins of Life40m
Week
23 hours to complete
Life on Earth
What was the environment of early Earth like when life first emerged and what do we know about life on the earliest Earth? How did life evolve to cope with survival in extreme environments? What have been the major evolutionary transitions of life on the Earth?
7 videos (Total 82 min), 2 quizzes
7 videos
Conditions on the Early Earth 12m
Evidence of Early Life7m
The Tree of Life9m
Life in Extreme Environments18m
The Rise of Multicellularity13m
The Great Oxidation Event17m
2 practice exercises
Life on the Early Earth40m
Life Through Time40m
Week
32 hours to complete
Habitable Environments Elsewhere in our Solar System?
What are the prospects for life on other planetary bodies in our Solar System and how do we go about searching for it? What conditions are required for a planet to be habitable?
7 videos (Total 71 min), 2 quizzes
7 videos
The Search for Life on Mars10m
Mars as a Location for Life15m
Could We All be Martians?7m
Europa7m
Enceladus6m
Other Icy Bodies14m
2 practice exercises
The Habitability of Mars40m
Life and Icy Bodies38m
Week
42 hours to complete
The Search for Habitable Exoplanets
How do we search for Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars and how would we detect life on them?
5 videos (Total 36 min), 2 quizzes
5 videos
Methods6m
Types of Planets8m
Biosignatures of Life in Exoplanet Atmospheres8m
How to Look for Biosignatures6m
Missions to Search for Biosignatures6m
2 practice exercises
The Search for Exoplanets40m
Biosignatures on Exoplanets40m
4.7
335 Reviews22%
started a new career after completing these courses
20%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top reviews from Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Very interesting and engaging course. There are longer and more in-depth courses if you want them but if you want a concise overview of astrobiology on your own time, then this course is perfect!
Great course, Charles does a great job teaching the course! opens up the possibilities of the origins of life and other possible life in our solar system and universe. thanks to Coursera.
Instructor
Charles Cockell
ProfessorAstrobiology
About The University of Edinburgh
Influencing the world since 1583, The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the world's top 50 universities. Today, we are an established and global leader in online learning, providing degree-level education to 3,000 online students in addition to 36,000 students on-campus. We also offer a wide range of free online courses in a variety of subjects. To find out more about studying for one of our online degrees, search for ‘Edinburgh online’ or visit www.ed.ac.uk/studying/online-learning/postgraduate
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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Is financial aid available?
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