Tiny life forms tucked into debris from an asteroid hit could catapult to other planets—including Earth—and survive, a new Johns Hopkins University study finds. The work demonstrates that a certain ...

Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. One of the most fundamental questions is "are we alone?" The answer to that question would shake the foundations of our ...

The colours of microbes that live in clouds high in the sky have been measured for the first time, giving scientists clues that could help us find life on other planets. A diverse range of ...

Water is essential for life on Earth. So, the liquid must be a requirement for life on other worlds. For decades, scientists’ definition of habitability on other planets has rested on this assumption.

After shooting the microbes, the team determined whether they survived and examined the survivors’ genetic material for clues to how they handled the pressure. The bacteria proved very hard to kill.