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  • “Exploration is in our nature.” - Carl Sagan

Life in the Universe (TPR)

Life in the Universe (TPR)
Life in the Universe (TPR) Life, as we know it, is a chemical process. The elements that make up living things were created deep within giant stars. In the stars' death throes, these elements are released to space, where they can combine into the dark molecular clouds strung among the stars (seen here as dark streaks in the Trifid Nebula). On Earth, we find wonderfully diverse manifestations of living chemistry (clockwise from top left): densely crowded coral reefs; rich, extravagant rain forests; and intelligent, language-using dolphins. We also find a species that has questioned how life began and is now using its technology to search for answers among the planets and stars. Clockwise from top leff, Carl Roessler, Brian Parker and Ed Robinson: Tom Slack and Associates; JPL/NASA; background, National Optical Astronomy Observatories