December Second Saturday - Life Beyond Earth? Exhibition

Related Organization: Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Linda Hall Library's exhibition galleries, featuring Life Beyond Earth?, are open 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on the Second Saturday of each month and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday-Friday.

Is there life beyond Earth? This question has fascinated humanity for centuries. Given the vast number of stars and planets in the known universe, it seems possible that there could be an abundance of life, including intelligent life capable of interstellar communication and travel; however, scientists have found no credible evidence beyond our planet.

With advanced technology and unanswered questions, the search for extraterrestrial life has accelerated over the past half-century, moving from fringe science and sensationalist news to legimate research and front-page headlines. Let's continue the search for answers!

WEST GALLERY: This gallery offers an introduction and perspective on the history of the scientific search for extraterrestrial life, highlighting fundamental questions and challenges from the 17th century to today, and showcasing humanity's evolving quest to understand our place in the universe.

ALCOVE: Neighboring the West Gallery, the Alcove explores how fascination, fear, or paranoia take over when trying to understand the unknown--leaving you with one big question.

BEYOND: Down the stairs and past the Mars landscape is the immersive Interplanetary Research Lab, where astrobiologists from the 25th century are investigating specimens from four hypothetical planets.

Life Beyond Earth? is accompanied by five programs featuring expert researchers, scientific journalists, pilots, and astronauts discussion societal implications, environmental concerns, and biological and technological challenges in the search for extraterrestrial life. Visit our Events page to register for upcoming events and watch recordings of past events.