

Is There Life On Other Planets? | A Research Professor Explains
Mar 31, 2025
Andrew Watson, a Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Exeter, dives into the thrilling question of extraterrestrial life. He discusses the early Earth's atmosphere and how comet bombardment contributed to its formation. Watson elaborates on the advent of photosynthesis, which transformed our planet's atmosphere and set the stage for life. The conversation also touches on the challenges of assessing planetary habitability in our solar system and beyond, highlighting the significance of technologies like the James Webb telescope in this exploration.
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Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 2min
The Origins of Earth's Atmosphere and Water
02:11 • 8min
The Evolutionary Impact of Bacteria on Earth's Atmosphere
10:21 • 3min
The Oxygen Revolution: Life and Earth's Atmosphere
13:36 • 9min
Exploring Planetary Habitability
23:03 • 5min
Exploring Planetary Atmospheres and Earth's History
27:56 • 2min