Astronomy Astrobiology and the Search for Life

Question 1

What term describes the region around a star where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface?

Accepted Answer

Habitable zone

Answer

Frost line

Answer

Roche limit

Answer

Magnetosphere

Question 2

Which molecule, when detected alongside oxygen in a planetary atmosphere, is considered a strong biosignature?

Accepted Answer

Methane

Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Nitrogen

Answer

Argon

Question 3

NASA's TESS mission, launched in 2018, is designed primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Search for exoplanets transiting nearby stars

Answer

Map the cosmic microwave background

Answer

Study dark matter distribution

Answer

Measure solar wind intensity

Question 4

Organisms that thrive in extreme environments such as high heat, high acidity, or intense radiation are called:

Accepted Answer

Extremophiles

Answer

Anaerobes

Answer

Autotrophs

Answer

Lithotrophs

Question 5

Which of Jupiter's moons is considered a top candidate for harboring life due to its confirmed subsurface liquid water ocean?

Accepted Answer

Europa

Answer

Io

Answer

Ganymede

Answer

Callisto

Question 6

The Drake Equation was developed to estimate:

Accepted Answer

The number of communicating extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way

Answer

The age of the universe

Answer

The speed necessary for interstellar travel

Answer

The probability that life originated by panspermia

Question 7

The RNA World hypothesis proposes that RNA preceded DNA as the primary genetic molecule because:

Accepted Answer

RNA can both store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions

Answer

RNA is chemically more stable than DNA

Answer

RNA does not require water to function

Answer

RNA is found exclusively in ancient microfossils