Exoplanets - Formation, Detection Methods, and the Search for Biosignatures

Explore the fascinating world of exoplanets in this comprehensive astronomy talk that delves into planetary detection methods, formation processes, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Learn about groundbreaking missions from the first exoplanet discovery through the Kepler mission, while understanding various detection techniques including transit observations and radial velocity measurements. Discover the complex journey of planetary formation within protoplanetary disks, following the evolution from molten magma oceans to fully formed rocky worlds. Examine the challenges in identifying true biosignatures, including how abiotic processes can create misleading signs of life in planetary atmospheres, and understand the sophisticated methods used to distinguish genuine indicators of life from false positives in the ongoing quest to find habitable worlds beyond Earth.