The search for microscopic aliens | Sarah Rugheimer

Visit to watch more groundbreaking talks from the TED Fellows.

Astrophysicist and TED Fellow Sarah Rugheimer searches for aliens — but not the cartoony green kind. She's looking for extraterrestrial microbes by studying how these single-celled organisms emit gases, which could reveal evidence of them throughout the cosmos. Wondering if we're really alone in the universe, Rugheimer identifies two big hurdles to confirming life on another world and offers insight into what finding it might mean for us.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

Become a TED Member:
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:

TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy ( ). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

18 Comments on The search for microscopic aliens | Sarah Rugheimer

  1. This is a good subject I always assumed that we should have found some form of microscopic bacteria on other planets. I wrote this before I even watched the video so I hope this is what she’s talking about lol

  2. Great video ! Also I was wondering (maybe this is stupid) do lifeforms emit (sound)waves in particular ? And if so could it be possible to search for life with sounds rather than images ?

  3. It would be interesting to find not only the known biological life, but also other complex structures and their appearance of emergence. But it is a start.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


Shares
Share This