Is Earth Exceptional?Master ClassIn-Person

Why and where life exists are two of the biggest unsolved problems in science. Since Charles Darwin’s early speculations over a century ago, the origins and extent of life have remained shrouded in mystery; scientists have wondered how life has emerged from inanimate chemistry, and whether Earth is the only place where it can be found. But, the veil is finally lifting. In this class, we’ll explore how life’s building blocks—from RNA to amino acids and cells—could have emerged from the chaos of Earth’s early existence. We’ll then apply the knowledge gathered from cutting-edge research across the sciences to the search for life in the cosmos: both life as we know it and life as we don’t. Together, we’ll tackle the question of whether life is a freak accident or a chemical imperative.

EARTH SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, EVOLUTION, ASTRONOMY