Life on other planets

Jupiter's tumultuous atmosphere

Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstadt/Sean Doran

A series of missions to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn has revealed their potential to harbour life. Nina Notman looks to the skies

Scientists are using telescopes and space probes to study Mars, Europa and Enceladus and look for signs of life – liquid water and organic compounds. There are even plans to look at exoplanets beyond our solar system using ground- and space-based telescopes.