Redefining Life: Integrating Biology, Chemistry, and Planetary Science in Modern Astrobiology
1. Introduction For centuries, life was assumed to be a uniquely Earth-bound phenomenon. Biological sciences developed under the assumption that terrestrial life forms represented universal biological principles. However, modern discoveries in microbiology, planetary science, and astrochemistry challenge this assumption. Organisms thriving in deep oceans, acidic lakes, frozen deserts, and radioactive environments demonstrate that life adapts …