The Quest for Habitable Planets

Professor Aumawa Shields, an astronomy professor, focuses her research on studying the habitability of planets beyond our solar system. She aims to answer the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe by identifying planets that have the potential for liquid water, a key ingredient for life as we know it. Using climate models, Professor Shields simulates different atmospheres and surface conditions to determine the habitability of exoplanets. She also discusses the importance of bio-signatures, the potential markers of life, and how future telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope could help identify these signs. Ultimately, her work seeks to prioritize the search for habitable exoplanets and answer the question of extraterrestrial life.