Xenobiology/Exobiology is the study of life beyond Earth, including the search for and study of extraterrestrial life forms and their potential habitats.
Xenobiology/Exobiology and Astrobiology are closely related fields, but they differ in their focus. While Astrobiology is concerned with the study of life in the universe as a whole, Xenobiology/Exobiology specifically focuses on life beyond Earth.
Some potential areas of research in Xenobiology/Exobiology include the study of extremophiles on Earth to understand the limits of life, the search for biosignatures on other planets, and the development of technologies to aid in the detection and study of extraterrestrial life.
Scientists search for extraterrestrial life by studying the conditions and environments on other planets and moons, looking for potentially habitable environments and searching for biosignatures, which are chemical or physical indicators of life.
The discovery of extraterrestrial life would have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and our place within it. It could also have impacts on fields such as philosophy, theology, and society as a whole.