Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

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Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Instructor: Charles Cockell

92,876 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

2,687 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

2,687 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

11 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Learn about the origin and evolution of life and the search for life beyond the Earth.

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?

What's included

10 videos3 assignments

10 videosTotal 132 minutes

Welcome1 minute
Introduction18 minutes
History of Astrobiology20 minutes
What is Life?21 minutes
Life on Earth13 minutes
Structure of Life: Building Blocks10 minutes
Structure of LIfe: Cells14 minutes
Origins of Life: Building Blocks11 minutes
Origins of Life: Location12 minutes
Origins of Life: Alternative Chemistries11 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Introduction and History of Astrobiology30 minutes
Life: The Basics30 minutes
Origins of Life30 minutes

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?

What's included

7 videos2 assignments

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?

What's included

7 videos2 assignments

How do we search for Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars and how would we detect life on them?

What's included

5 videos2 assignments

What are the possibilities for intelligent life elsewhere? How would we deal with contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence and what would be the impact on society? Who would represent Earth?

What's included

4 videos1 reading2 assignments

4 videosTotal 34 minutes

Is There Anybody Out There?8 minutes
Contacting Extraterrestrial Civilizations6 minutes
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence6 minutes
The Social Dimension15 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Post-Course Survey10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence30 minutes
Societal Implications of Contact with ET30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(590 ratings)

Charles Cockell

The University of Edinburgh

1 Course92,876 learners

Offered by

The University of Edinburgh

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Reviewed on Mar 22, 2018

There are no words, I am so grateful and excited that I took this course. It helped me answer all these questions that I have always had. Thank you professor and coursera community!

Reviewed on May 31, 2020

Really interesting course- both scientific and philosophical. This course is a great overview of astrobiology and gives insight into a more niche area of science not offered at school.

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2020

Great job and thank you, Chris for taking my imagination on a journey while learning so many new things about our Solar system and beyond! I will continue to explore Astrobiology.

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