A Search for Life in the Universe Advances Life on Earth

Catherine Fontana, Sabrina Elkassas, Tristan Caro , Srishti Kashyap, Alta Howells

Astrobiology, while traditionally focused on understanding the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere, offers powerful tools and insights for addressing urgent challenges on our planet. This perspective, written by early career researchers, calls for a deliberate integration of astrobiological research with applied sciences in environmental engineering, biotechnology, and resource management. We highlight how knowledge from Earth analogs for other planetary bodies can inform strategies for carbon capture, low-carbon energy production, waste remediation, and biotechnology. Examples include engineering serpentinizing systems for hydrogen and carbon sequestration, harnessing extremophile and cyanobacterial metabolisms for sustainable industrial processes, and applying microbial bioremediation to mitigate environmental contaminants and pollutants. As technologies developed for space exploration begin to find terrestrial relevance, we argue that astrobiology must evolve to become a bidirectional science that not only explores the cosmos but also supports sustainable life on Earth. This dual approach strengthens our ability to design and implement astrobiological missions to other solar system bodies while simultaneously supporting improved stewardship of our own Earth.