Astronomer Aomawa Shields searches for clues that life might exist elsewhere in the universe by examining the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. When she isn't exploring the heavens, the classically trained actor (and TED Fellow) looks for ways to engage young women in the sciences using theater, writing and visual art. "Maybe one day they'll join the ranks of astronomers who are full of contradictions," she says, "and use their backgrounds to discover, once and for all, that we are truly not alone in the universe."

Aomawa Shields: How we'll find life on other planets

How we'll find life on other planets

Astronomer, astrobiologist, actor, writer

Exploring exoplanets' climates reveals more than distance to stars for life potential; Venus's scorching atmosphere is a case in point.

Contradictions in nature, such as the warmer climates of planets orbiting cooler stars, fuel the search for extraterrestrial life.

Exploring exoplanet climates reveals contradictions vital for life search, like Venus's extreme heat despite its proximity to the sun.