MCQ Detailed View

The study of life in outer space is known as Exobiology. This branch of science explores the possibility of life existing beyond Earth, studying how living organisms might originate, survive, and evolve in environments beyond our planet. It combines knowledge from biology, chemistry, astronomy, and planetary science to understand whether life can form elsewhere in the universe.Exobiologists focus on key questions such as:

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  How did life begin on Earth, and can similar processes occur on other planets or moons?

  
  


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  Can microorganisms survive extreme conditions, such as high radiation, vacuum, or lack of oxygen, that are common in space?

  
  


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  Are there signs of past or present life on planets like Mars, or on icy moons like Europa and Enceladus, where liquid water may exist beneath the surface?

  
  

Scientists study extremophiles, organisms on Earth that live in harsh environments like deep oceans, acidic lakes, or frozen glaciers, to understand how life might survive on other worlds. They also analyze meteorites, space dust, and exoplanet atmospheres for chemical signs that could suggest life.

The other options are incorrect:

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  Endobiology: Study of life processes inside living organisms.

  
  


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  Enterobiology: Related to the study of the intestines or digestive system.

  
  


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  Neobiology: A general term sometimes used for modern biological studies, but not specific to space.

  
  

Exobiology overlaps with astrobiology, a broader field that not only studies possible extraterrestrial life but also the conditions that make planets habitable. NASA and other space agencies use findings from exobiology to design missions and instruments that search for life beyond Earth.

Therefore, the study of life in outer space is called Exobiology, making Option 2 the correct answer.