Astrobiology is the scientific study of the living universe; its past, present, and future. It starts with investigating life on Earth, the only place where life is known to exist, and extends into the farthest reaches of the cosmos. It ranges in time from the big bang and continues on into the future.

Astrobiology covers a diverse range of topics which can be categorized under major questions: Where did life come from? What is its future? Are we alone in the universe? While these questions have been asked for millennia, rapid advances in the sciences and the ability to travel out into space have set the stage for a novel scientific examination. As any such newborn, Astrobiology is growing and maturing rapidly. Breakthroughs and discoveries are routine. But rather than a description of each new research finding, the definition of Astrobiology must be that of a whole, greater than the sum of its parts. It is a collaborative effort; a "new" practice that leverages and transcends traditional scientific discipline boundaries to create an innovation in interdisciplinary communication.

Astrobiology absorbs the information from chemistry, geology, astronomy, planetary science, paleontology, oceanography, physics, biology, mathematicsÖ and emerges with a unique perspective. One inaccessible from within each component discipline alone. One characterized by both diversity and unity in the pursuit of knowledge about the universe, and our place within it.

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