Searching for Habitable Worlds: Challenges & Opportunities

Title: Searching for Habitable Worlds: Challenges & Opportunities

Speaker: Prof. Lisa Kaltenegger, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, NY, USA

Abstract: More than 5000 detected extrasolar planets have shown us the huge diversity of these new worlds: among the surprising discoveries are hot planets orbiting their star in only a few hours, lava worlds, Mini-Neptunes as well as the first potential rocky worlds in the temperate Habitable Zone of their host stars.

Observation techniques have already reached the sensitivity to explore the chemical composition of the atmospheres of some hot exoplanets. With the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, we will be able to glimpse into the atmosphere of potentially habitable worlds orbiting other stars.

For now, our own planet is our only key to spot life in the universe. Its evolution through time and its diverse biota give us clues on what to search for. The spectra of planets are our window to explore potential habitable worlds lightyears away - as well as to understand our own planet better. This talk will present the newest results in our search, its challenges and opportunities on the way to finding out whether or not we are alone in the cosmos.