The Biennial European Astrobiology Conference (BEACON) serves as a gathering point for scientists and experts in the Astrobiology field from Europe and beyond. During the latest conference, held on  La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain) from May, 8th to 12th 2023, the LIFE Team made significant contributions, which we highlight here.

 

Talks:

Daniel Angerhausen provided an enlightening overview of the LIFE project during his talk. He showcased the project’s goals, methodologies, and notable advancements, setting the stage for the subsequent presentations.

Björn Konrad’s talk addressed an intriguing question: Can LIFE identify and characterize an Earth twin? This presentation explored the unique capabilities of the LIFE project, particularly in detecting and analyzing crucial atmospheric components in an Earth twin’s spectrum. Konrad’s insights provided valuable knowledge in the search for habitable exoplanets resembling our own.

Eleonora Alei’s talk focused on LIFE’s ability to distinguish Earth’s younger siblings, shedding light on LIFE’s ability to detect features in the atmosphere of Earth twin’s at different geological times.

 

 

Posters:

Janina Hansen’s poster presentation explored the LIFE project’s potential in testing the habitable zone (HZ) concept.

Thea Kozakis’ poster presentation focused on LIFE’s capacity to detect ozone (O3) as a proxy for oxygen (O2) in exoplanet atmospheres and potentially signify the presence of life.

 

 

The LIFE Science Team’s participation in the BEACON conference showcased their work in exoplanet characterization for a broader community of astrobiologists from diverse backgrounds. Through captivating talks and informative posters, the team demonstrated the remarkable capabilities of the LIFE project in identifying Earth-like exoplanets, deciphering their atmospheric compositions, and investigating signs of habitability and life beyond our solar system.