# Astrobiology
**Concept class:** Interdisciplinary scientific field
## Definition
**Astrobiology** studies the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It joins astronomy, planetary science, geology, chemistry, biology, and the search for biosignatures; the search for technological intelligence is related but methodologically distinct.
## Relationships
- **ICE participants:** [[wiki/Paul Davies|Paul Davies]], [[wiki/David Grinspoon|David Grinspoon]], [[wiki/Adam Frank|Adam Frank]], [[wiki/Carol Cleland|Carol Cleland]], and [[wiki/Jill Tarter|Jill Tarter]].
- **institutional routes:** [[wiki/SETI Institute|SETI Institute]] and [[wiki/Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science|Beyond Center]].
- **adjacent concepts:** [[wiki/Extraterrestrial Intelligence|Extraterrestrial Intelligence]], origins of life, biosignatures, technosignatures, and planetary habitability.
- **disambiguation route:** [[wiki/ICE|ICE disambiguation]].
## Sources / Provenance
- [SETI Institute — Astrobiology FAQ](https://www.seti.org/about/faq/)
- [NASA Astrobiology](https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/)