"Extrasolar Planets and CSI for life in the universe"

Abstract: The detection of exoplanets orbiting other stars has revolutionized our view of the cosmos. First results suggest that it is teeming with a fascinating diversity of rocky planets including those in the Habitable Zone. The next generation of telescopes will be able to peer into the atmospheres of rocky planets and give us a glimpse into other worlds. Our own planet and its wide range of biota serves as a Rosetta stone for how we could detect habitability and signs of life on exoplanets. For the first time in human history we have developed the technology to detect potential habitable worlds. Finding thousands of exoplanets has taken the field of comparative planetology beyond the Solar System.