CIERA

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\*\*\*\*\* THIRD PARTY EVENT _ REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW TO ATTEND! \*\*\*\*\* https://planitpurple.northwestern.edu/event/640939 NOTE: Northwestern requests advanced registration, but seating is first come first seated. # The Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth By[CIERA](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-search-for-signs-of-life-beyond-earth-tickets-1997045779686?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail#organizer-card) [Cahn AuditoriumEvanston, IL](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-search-for-signs-of-life-beyond-earth-tickets-1997045779686?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail#location) Thursday, October 8 • 6 PM - 7:30 PM Overview Astronomers are searching exoplanet atmospheres and Venus's clouds for signs of life. Professor Sara Seager shares the latest discoveries! Join us for the 2026 CIERA Annual Public Lecture! Professor Sara Seager will discuss the search for signs of life beyond Earth. Each year, Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics ([CIERA](https://ciera.northwestern.edu/ "https://ciera.northwestern.edu/")) invites a renowned speaker to campus for our Annual Public Lecture. This year's speaker is astrophysicist Professor Sara Seager, North Star Distinguished Professor at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), University of Toronto. For thousands of years, inspired by the starry night sky, humanity has wondered about what lies beyond Earth. Today, the search for signs of life is a key motivator in planetary exploration. Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars other than the Sun and are studying their atmospheres for gases that could indicate life. Closer to home, renewed interest in Venus has led to investigations of its cloud layers, where temperatures are right for life. New discoveries in both exoplanets and Solar System bodies are bringing us closer to answering ancient questions about life beyond Earth. Professor Seager will share the…