The universe may be teeming with life but what would alien biology really look like? In Part II of The Teeming Universe ...

Alien biology: How will astronomers actually know if they've found extraterrestrial life? There are no set standards for extraterrestrial life, so will scientists even recognize it when they see it?

This requires understanding about alien social behavior, which, one analyst argues, is an extension of alien biology. Above: Extraterrestrials in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” ...

But what aspects of alien biology might we expect? Carbon-based biochemistry is likely given that carbon forms stable backbone chains, and makes stable but readily breakable bonds with other elements.

How would scientists even recognize biological signs of life beyond Earth? Assembly theory proposes a way to identify molecules made by living systems—even those using unfamiliar chemistries.

Alien biology Are Mass Effect's aliens biologically accurate? Mass Effect's core assumption is that aliens, like us, are products of evolution over millions and millions of years.

We just sent a message to aliens who could respond by 2042 'Alien' signal likely isn't, but if it is, they're way smarter than us Real search for aliens gets weird signal from a sci-fi world ...

This is particularly critical for astrobiologists planning to look for specific chemicals that indicate that there is alien biology happening on planets beyond the solar system.

But what aspects of alien biology might we expect? Carbon-based biochemistry is likely given that carbon forms stable backbone chains, and makes stable but readily breakable bonds with other elements.