The Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (CITIC) of the University of A Coruña hosted the “Fronteiras, dende a orixe do universo ata a exploración espacial” series on Wednesday, June 12. The session focused on the search for life in the universe and the possibility of living outside our planet, featuring the participation of CITIC’s deputy director, Javier Pereira, and the series coordinators: Minia Manteiga, professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of A Coruña, academic and secretary of the RAGC; and Ana Ulla, professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Vigo.

The session began with a presentation by Benjamín Montesinos, researcher at the Centro de Astrobiología of the CSIC and president of the Spanish Astronomical Society. Montesinos delved into the characteristics of planetary systems discovered so far and their future prospects. “Until 1995, we did not know of the existence of any planetary system other than our solar system. There was no reason to doubt the existence of extrasolar planets or exoplanets – planets orbiting other stars similar to our Sun, but despite the methods for discovering them being already developed, it took time to apply them to this field of research,” explained the expert.

Next, Galician astrophysicist Isabel Rebollido, currently working at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Madrid, presented her research on debris disks, key elements to understanding the ability of planetary systems to harbor life. “The search for life beyond our planet is a question that humanity has tried to answer since its beginnings. Thanks to recent technological advances, these philosophical questions have become tangible scientific investigations,” highlighted Rebollido.

Finally, Ester Lázaro, researcher at the Centro de Astrobiología of the CSIC, addressed the foundations of life outside our planet from an astrobiological perspective. According to Lázaro, “among the great questions that humanity has asked throughout its history are some like what is the origin of life on Earth?, could life have arisen on other bodies in the universe? or what would the inhabitants of those distant places be like?”

At the end of the session, attendees participated in a debate with the experts. All the conferences in the series are free to access, either in person or online, with prior registration through the following link: https://forms.gle/FZ6hAQovKHtncLEx9.

The Real Academia Galega de Ciencias (RAGC), in collaboration with the Diputación de A Coruña, is carrying out this series of conferences that began on Monday the 10th and concludes this afternoon at the Casa das Ciencias de A Coruña.