Astrobiology as Hybrid Science: Introduction to the Thematic Issue

Extração fotométrica a bordo das estrelas-alvo da missão PLATO: máscaras fotométricas ótimas para detecção de planetas extra-solares.

“…When contemplating the boundlessness of our universe, with its hundred billions galaxies composed of countless stars and planets, we might fell impelled to interrogate ourselves with a simple yet meaningful question: "Are we alone?". It turns out that scientifically answering to this question has been proven to be one of the toughest challenges in the cohesive scientific fields of astronomy, astrophysics and astrobiology (see Caporael (2018), Galante et al (2016)). Indeed, even with the most powerful telescopes available to date, which are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in a wide range of wavelengths and thereby capable to probe the universe at mind-blowing distances far away from our Solar System, no clear sign or evidence of existing life beyond Earth was ever found yet.…”