thesis statement for life on other planets

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• “Exploration is in our nature.” - Carl Sagan

William Balmer • Oct 11, 2023

How astronomers search for life on exoplanets

One of humanity’s biggest questions remains: “ Are we alone ?” 

For nearly half a century, astronomers have looked for messages from extraterrestrial intelligences that might reach Earth. Many other astronomers hope to answer this question by taking detailed observations of exoplanets: planets orbiting distant stars. But how can astronomers hope to answer this kind of question by observing planets they'll never get to visit? And how (or, when) will we know if a claim of a sign of life is believable?

Looking for signs of life in light

For the past century, astronomers have used spectroscopy to learn more about stars, galaxies, super massive black holes, and the planets in our own Solar System. Only in the last two decades, with powerful new telescopes, cameras, and computers, have we finally achieved the precision necessary to measure the spectra of exoplanets. The first spectrum of an exoplanet, published in 2002 , was taken using the Hubble Space Telescope and showed evidence of vaporized sodium in the atmosphere of the exoplanet HD 209458 b.

There are major prospects in the next few decades to observe the spectra of planets and hunt for potential “ biosignatures .” Biosignatures are the spectral markers of molecules that might be necessary for, or produced by, life as we know it. 

There are three ways to measure a planet’s spectrum: 1) look for light bouncing off the planet’s surface or atmosphere (reflection spectroscopy), 2) observe the light produced by the heat of the planet itself (thermal emission spectroscopy), or 3) watch light pass through the planet’s atmosphere (transmission spectroscopy).

New technologies for seeing exoplanets 

Direct exoplanet imaging , which involves blocking the light from a bright star and resolving the light from a nearby, fainter planet, is an excellent avenue for both reflection spectroscopy and thermal emission spectroscopy. With the star out of the picture (no pun intended), astronomers can measure how hot and dense a planet’s atmosphere is, and can tell which molecules are present.

Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) demonstrated its exquisite precision with this technique, observing sandy clouds in the atmosphere of a strange gas giant planet , and detecting hot carbon-monoxide and water molecules in multi-color images of another gas giant planet . Still, JWST is only able to image gas giant planets.

NASA’s next flagship space telescope, the  Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will seek to directly image Earth-like planets in the 2050s. The impressive mission concept hopes to observe signatures of oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone. Oxygen and ozone are produced by and sustain life on the Earth, so they are natural biosignature candidates , but some astronomers are worried that oxygen on other planets could be produced by complex, but ‘abiotic’ chemical interactions too. Even if oxygen is detected in the spectrum of a directly imaged planet, it will likely take multiple lines of evidence (detecting multiple molecules and modeling where they come from), to rule out any false positives.

The prospects for observing biosignatures in the short term may improve using transmission spectroscopy. This technique has been leading exoplanetary atmosphere science for the past two decades, because direct imaging of exoplanets is so difficult.

Unfortunately, we don’t know of any transiting Earth-twins yet, even after missions like Kepler and TESS , we haven’t been able to stare at enough stars for long enough with enough sensitivity to pick out these tiny signals. The transiting planets that do orbit in their star’s habitable zone (where surface liquid water could be sustained) are all tidally locked in close orbits around dim, red dwarf stars. Depending on who you ask, that might be good or (very) bad news for the hunt for signs of life.

Astronomers have used JWST to place strong upper limits on the size and composition of the atmospheres of rocky planets transiting red dwarf stars, like LHS 475b , GJ 486b , and recently TRAPPIST 1b . But JWST hasn’t convincingly detected atmospheres on these rocky planets, because these red dwarf stars can also have vaporized water in their own atmospheres that can mimic a planetary spectral signal. In order to combat this, astronomers will have to learn a lot more about these strange stars before they can tackle the spectra of their planets.

Even then, in order to convincingly detect many biosignatures with the transit technique, astronomers would need to use up an outlandish fraction of the observing time on JWST, without a guarantee of success. Optimistic estimates indicate ten or more transits of a single planet should suffice (a week or more of observations, spread over years), but realistic or pessimistic estimates can range from twenty to hundreds of transits (each of which are many hours long). With so much feasible, groundbreaking astronomy to be done with JWST, the likelihood of the telescope being able to dedicate enough time to find convincing signs of life appears very slim.

A chance of life on gaseous worlds

Signs of life might not be relegated to Earth-sized planets, however. For a few years some astronomers have suggested that so called “mini-Neptunes,” with masses many times the Earth’s, could have large oceans hidden under puffy atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The big problem is that astronomers don’t yet have precise enough measurements, or rigorous enough models, to prove definitively what a mini-Neptune’s interior is made of. And with all the uncertainty surrounding the birth and evolution of life on rocky planets, there is even more we don’t know about how life could come to be within a massive, high pressure ocean.

While very uncertain, this provocation is enticing, because the puffy, hydrogen and helium dominated atmospheres of mini-Neptunes are much easier to observe with transmission spectroscopy than the thin, oxygen and carbon dense atmospheres of terrestrial planets. Within this soup of hydrogen and helium, it’s possible that water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and even biosignature gasses could float up high enough to be detected with more reasonable observing programs.

A group of astronomers recently used JWST to observe the transmission spectrum of the mini-Neptune K2-18b. Their spectrum, while fairly noisy , showed signatures of methane and carbon-dioxide, an impressive first for studies of mini-Neptune atmospheres. The observation of these molecules, given careful consideration and additional, rigorous modeling, could begin to build support for the mini-Neptune surface ocean hypothesis.

Unfortunately, the paper appeared, to many astronomers, to jump the gun. It controversially claimed a “detection” of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a molecule that, on Earth, is produced by life. DMS doesn’t produce a distinct spectral feature in their data, like carbon dioxide or methane do, but their models of the planet’s atmosphere allow for DMS, and sometimes their models with more DMS appear to match the data well. In reality, their noisy data is likely overfit by DMS, since the spectrum can be explained just as easily without DMS as with it.

This claim propelled the result to the headlines, the most provocative of which read “ NASA says planet 8.6 times bigger than Earth could support life ” and “ Possible hints of life found on distant planet ”. As associate professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Elizabeth Tasker put it , “We have not discovered life on K2-18b… All we can say is that the planet does not… not… have an ocean.”

In the near future, JWST observations of the transmission spectra of mini-Neptunes with surface oceans could be fascinating testbeds for hypotheses about life in the Universe… or they could become another case of astronomical clickbait. While JWST continues to make strides towards more precise observations of rocky planets around red dwarfs, astronomers will need to contend with contaminating signals from these stars before claims about water, or life, are to be believed. In the long run, however, all these transmission spectra might become eclipsed (pun intended) by direct imaging with HWO, and its measurements of oxygen on rocky planets orbiting Sun-like stars.

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September 26, 2022

New theory concludes that the origin of life on Earth-like planets is likely

by University of Arkansas

Does the existence of life on Earth tell us anything about the probability of abiogenesis—the origin of life from inorganic substances—arising elsewhere? That's a question that has confounded scientists, and anyone else inclined to ponder it, for some time.

A widely accepted argument from Australian-born astrophysicist Brandon Carter argues that the selection effect of our own existence puts constraints on our observation. Since we had to find ourselves on a planet where abiogenesis occurred, then nothing can be inferred about the probability of life elsewhere based on this knowledge alone.

At best, he argued, the knowledge of life on Earth is of neutral value. Another way of looking at it is that Earth can't be considered a typical Earth-like planet because it hasn't been selected at random from the set of all Earth-like planets .

However, a new paper by Daniel Whitmire, a retired astrophysicist who currently teaches mathematics at the U of A, is arguing that Carter used faulty logic. Though Carter's theory has become widely accepted, Whitmire argues that it suffers from what's known as "the old evidence problem" in Bayesian confirmation theory, which is used to update a theory or hypothesis in light of new evidence.

After giving a few examples of how this formula is employed to calculate probabilities and what role old evidence plays, Whitmire turns to what he calls the conception analogy.

As he explains, "One could argue, like Carter, that I exist regardless of whether my conception was hard or easy, and so nothing can be inferred about whether my conception was hard or easy from my existence alone."

In this analogy, "hard" means contraception was used. "Easy" means no contraception was used. In each case, Whitmire assigns values to these propositions.

Whitmire continues, "However, my existence is old evidence and must be treated as such. When this is done the conclusion is that it is much more probable that my conception was easy. In the abiogenesis case of interest, it's the same thing. The existence of life on Earth is old evidence and just like in the conception analogy the probability that abiogenesis is easy is much more probable."

In other words, the evidence of life on Earth is not of neutral value in making the case for life on similar planets. As such, our life suggests that life is more likely to emerge on other Earth-like planets—maybe even on the recent "super-Earth" type planet, LP 890-9b, discovered 100 light years away.

Those with a taste for math can read Whitmire's paper, "Abiogensis: The Carter Argument Reconsidered," in the International Journal of Astrobiology .

Journal information: International Journal of Astrobiology

Provided by University of Arkansas

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Life on Other Planets Essay

Article review.

The article chosen for this part of the assignment is titled “The Extremely Halophilic Microorganisms, a Possible Model for Life on Other Planets,” written by Sergiu Fendrihan, and published in 2017 in Current Trends in Natural Sciences journal. The researchers have analyzed the microscopic life that exists in areas of extreme heat, where water supply exists in the form of salt lakes (Fendrihan 148). Such areas include the Dead Sea, located in the Middle East, as well as various smaller salt lakes found in Africa and Australia.

What these locations have in common is the extremity of conditions in which microorganisms have to exist. According to Fendrihan (148), there is a multitude of halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms inhabiting these areas, up to 159 different subspecies belonging to the Halobacteriaceae family. In addition, these organisms prove to be very resistant to other extremes, such as UV radiation, heat, and lack of nutrients necessary for other bacteria.

Due to the extreme resistance of these bacteria to various hazards, this study provides important data for discovering life on other planets and moons. Mars exhibits signs of water having been present on its surface. In addition, evidence of salty underground oceans has been found on the moons of Saturn and Jupiter (Enceladus and Europa).

Thus, studying halophilic microorganisms supports the possibility of the existence of life on planets previously deemed uninhabitable. Low requirements for water and nutrients as well as high resistance to the elements increases their chances of survival. Investigating these planets would enrich the existing knowledge of space and biology.

Article Discussions

The article titled “Life on Mars: Exploration and Evidence” by Nola Taylor Redd provides cursory information about the state of research regarding life on Mars. The planet used to have large water deposits that were lost due to irradiation and exposure to harsh temperatures. The article suggests that life on Mars may still exist underneath the surface of the planet (Redd). Question: What exactly happened that altered Mars’s climate and caused it to lose so much of its water?

The second article titled “Aliens May Well Exist in a Parallel Universe, New Studies Find” by Brandon Specktor speculates about the existence of life in other dimensions. This article seems more like speculation rather than a contribution to the scientific community, as evidence of the existence of other dimensions is purely theoretical (Specktor). Question: If parallel universes exist, can they influence the events in our universe?

The third article titled “The Four Best Places for Life in Our Solar System” by Nicole Mortillaro provides a summary of four potential places for finding life. These planets and moons include Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and Titan (Mortillaro). This article outlines the requirements currently used to determine the feasibility of life on other planets. Question: Why did NASA restrict itself to studying Mars instead of sending a drone on one of the moons?

The fourth article written by Mike Wall speaks of the protective gravitational barrier of our solar system, which filters out charged particles coming from outside of the solar system. The existence of this protective field makes life on Earth possible (Wall). Studying it would help determine which systems can potentially harbor life and which could not. Question: Is the gravitational barrier unique to the Solar system alone?

The fifth article written by Lisa Kaspin-Powell explores the potential of non-H2O-based lifeforms existing on Titan. The article informs the readers that the elements found in Titan’s atmosphere can form cellular membranes similar to phospholipid molecular chains (Kaspin-Powell). Question: What other elements could potentially form cellular membranes?

The last article written by Seth Shostack provides a list of eight planets within the scope of our solar system that has the potential of harboring life. Aside from the 4 candidates mentioned in the article by Mortillaro, the article adds Earth, Venus, Ganymede, and Callisto, which show gravitational signs of possessing underground water (Shostak). Question: How is gravity related to the presence or absence of water?

Works Cited

Fendrihan, Sergiu. “The Extremely Halophilic Microorganisms, A Possible Model for Life on Other Planets.” Current Trends in Natural Sciences, vol. 6, no. 12, 2017, pp. 147-151.

Kaspin-Powell, Lisa. “Does Titan’s Hydrocarbon Soup Hold a Recipe for Life?” Astrobiology Magazine . 2018. Web.

Mortillaro, Nicole. “ The Four Best Places for Life in Our Solar System .” Global News . 2014. Web.

Redd, Nola Taylor. “ Life on Mars: Exploration and Evidence. ” Space. 2017. Web.

Shostak, Seth. “ 8 Worlds Where Life Might Exist. ” Space. 2006. Web.

Specktor, Brandon. “ Aliens May Well Exist in a Parallel Universe, New Studies Find. ” Space. 2018. Web.

Wall, Mike. “ NASA Will Launch a Probe to Study the Solar System’s Protective Bubble in 2024. ” Space. 2018. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2023, December 13). Life on Other Planets. https://ivypanda.com/essays/life-on-other-planets/

"Life on Other Planets." IvyPanda , 13 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/life-on-other-planets/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Life on Other Planets'. 13 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Life on Other Planets." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/life-on-other-planets/.

1. IvyPanda . "Life on Other Planets." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/life-on-other-planets/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Life on Other Planets." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/life-on-other-planets/.

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Does life exist outside of the solar system?

Since humans first looked to the cosmos, we have wondered if life exists elsewhere in the Universe. Scientists and engineers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian may soon be able to answer that question.

Scientists and engineers from the Center for Astrophysics aim to achieve the following advances to enable the discovery of life on other planets:

• Understand the Origins of Life: We investigate the conditions of planetary development that made life’s emergence on Earth possible.
• Modeling and Instrumentation: We develop new models for the spectroscopic signatures that identify the composition of planetary atmospheres, and build new instruments to detect them.
• Search and Observation: We identify targeted exoplanet candidates for observation, and continually refine the search process.
• Data Analysis: We use observational data to infer planetary mass, orbit, size, and composition.

How We Search

Exoplanets , or planets in solar systems other than our own, sometimes orbit directly between the Earth and their host star. When the planet orbits in front of its star, it blocks a small amount of light. CfA scientists use the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Kepler space telescopes as well as the ground-based robotic telescopes of the MEarth project to look for dips in starlight. This “transit” method of planet hunting has revealed thousands of exoplanets.

During a transit, a small amount of starlight is absorbed by the planet’s atmosphere, yielding clues to the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. A massive, technologically advanced telescope is crucial for detecting the composition of an Earth-like planet’s atmosphere, including the subtle chemical signatures that life is expected to produce.

Thanks to next generation telescopes like the planned Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) , we are approaching a point in our observational capabilities that may allow us to make previously unthinkable discoveries. One of these breakthroughs is the detection of life on a distant planet, light years away from Earth.

Juliana Garcia-Mejia working on the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) spectrograph for the Giant Magellan Telescope, in a lab at CfA in Cambridge, MA.

Theory of Life

Institute for Theory and Computation scientists at the CfA work on identifying the exoplanets that are most likely to harbor life. The orbit must lie in the “habitable zone” where the exoplanet’s surface is just the right temperature for liquid water to exist. Every form of life we know requires liquid water, so an exoplanet too close or too far from its host star is less likely to contain life. Additionally, ultraviolet light may be needed to form some necessary prebiotic molecules, but an overactive host star can blast the young planet, stripping away its atmosphere. When searching for extraterrestrial life, finding the perfect star could be as important as finding the perfect exoplanet.

Our Next Tool

The G-CLEF or GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder, a next-generation spectrometer planned for use on the GMT, is our newest tool for measuring the starlight filtered through the atmosphere of an orbiting exoplanet. Using this instrument, scientists will soon be able to measure the chemical composition of a small rocky exoplanet’s atmosphere. Such an extraordinary feat is like trying to see through and study the antennae of a moth flying in front of a spotlight.

Based on our current understanding of the conditions necessary for life, the detection of biomarkers like oxygen in the atmosphere of a remote world through such observations would hint towards the presence of living organisms.

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When we look at our own planet Earth, we see life that abounds everywhere. Do these same conditions exist elsewhere in the Universe? Remarkably, 21st Century science and engineering may soon answer that question. Dr. Charles Alcock, Director, The Center for Astrophysics

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Why We Search

Whether life exists beyond Earth is one of the most profound questions of all time. The answer will change us forever, whether it reveals a universe rich with life, one in which life is rare and fragile, or even a universe in which we can find no other life at all.

The hunt for an answer also is revealing important details about our own place in the universe – where we came from, how life came about and, perhaps, where we’re headed.

The years and decades ahead will bring us ever closer to the ultimate in self-reflection: a mirror image of our own planet Earth. A small, rocky world with clouds, oceans and an atmosphere bearing signs of possible life. This might be a combination of gases – oxygen, carbon dioxide and methane – that, seen by themselves, don't tell us very much, but together speak volumes.

Such a world might be hundreds of light-years away, perhaps forever out of reach. But the molecular evidence we read in its atmosphere, using ever more acute technology, could give us the answer we've awaited since the dawn of humanity: No, we are not alone.

NASA's search for life

The ultimate goal of NASA's Exoplanet Program is to find unmistakable signs of current life.

Exoplanets’ own skies could hold such signs, waiting to be revealed by detailed analysis of the atmospheres of planets well beyond our solar system.

When we analyze light shot by a star through the atmosphere of a distant planet, a technique known as transmission spectroscopy, the effect looks like a barcode. The slices missing from the light spectrum tell us which ingredients are present in the alien atmosphere. One pattern of black gaps might indicate methane, another, oxygen. Seeing those together could be a strong argument for the presence of life. Or we might read a barcode that shows the burning of hydrocarbons; in other words, smog.

Finding another blue and white marble

For a world to have life as we know it, we understand that it would need liquid water on the surface, however, it might not look anything like Earth.

The planet would most likely exist in the “habitable zone” of the star it orbits, where it is neither too close nor too far from its star. Also called the Goldilock’s zone, this is the area around a star in which liquid water could exist on planets over geological timescales and where its atmosphere could contain the right balance of gases that could support life.

Partners in the search for life

NASA scientists hunting for life beyond Earth form a broad coalition: those investigating our solar system , ancient or extreme life forms on Earth, and even our Sun. Signs of life might be found on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa or Saturn's moon Enceladus, and potential future missions are in the conceptual or planning stages. Better understanding of early Earth life , or even living "extremophiles," could inform our attempts to detect life beyond our planet. And truly knowing distant exoplanets requires knowledge of the stars they orbit ; greater understanding of our Sun will help us to know other stars.

Discover More Topics From NASA

Search for Life

Black Holes

April 1, 1996

Searching for Life on Other Planets

Life remains a phenomenon we know only on Earth. But an innovative telescope in space could change that by detecting signs of life on distant planets

By J. Roger P. Angel & Neville J. Woolf

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Extraterrestrial Life Essay

This extraterrestrial life essay is about the search for other life forms on other planets, and whether you think the money spent on this is better spent elsewhere. 

Take a look at the essay question.

Some people believe that using taxpayer funds to look for life on other planets is important. Others, however, think that it is a waste of public money because there are much more important issues requiring funding on our own planet.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Understanding the question & brainstorming

The question for this extraterrestrial life essay is fairly straightforward to understand. You need to discuss:

• The pros of looking for life on other planets
• The cons of this (in terms of neglecting important issues on earth)
• Your opinion

It's a bit more of a tricky question though in that you need to come up with some ideas of why it is beneficial to find alternative life. This could involve using some complex language, so you need to be careful with your response.

Dealing with 'Your Opinion'

Remember that you don't have to have a separate body paragraph on ' Your Opinion '. 

A problem that can arise when candidates do this is that they end up with quite short and weak body paragraphs overall as it's difficult to have time to fully explain everything in 40 minutes in three strong body paragraphs.

It can also lead to repetition. Candidates often end up repeating in their opinion paragraph what they have already said in a previous paragraph. 

A solution is to make the second body paragraph your opinion instead, then reiterate this in the conclusion.

Now take a look at the extraterrestrial life essay model answer.

Extraterrestrial Life Essay Sample

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

The search for extraterrestrial life has been a topic of discussion and debate for many years. While some people believe that using taxpayer funds to find life on other planets is essential, others see it as a poor use of public money.

Those who believe in the importance of searching for extraterrestrial life argue that this is an opportunity to answer one of the biggest questions in science and human history: are we alone in the universe? They also believe that such a search will have tremendous scientific and technological benefits, including the development of new instruments, techniques, and methods of exploration that can be used for other purposes. Moreover, the discovery of extraterrestrial life, even if only in the form of microbial organisms, would have a profound impact on our understanding of the universe and the origin of life itself.

That said, I personally hold the view that though such research is important, the money spent on this should be balanced against other important needs and should not come at the expense of other critical programs. There are many pressing issues on our own planet that require funding, such as the major problems of poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental degradation. These are all urgent issues that affect millions of people around the world. We need to be mindful of the limited resources available to us and make sure that they are used in a responsible and effective manner.

In conclusion, the search for extraterrestrial life is an important and fascinating endeavour, but it must be balanced against other critical needs. The investment in this area should be used wisely and effectively, taking into account the benefits and limitations of the research, and should not be to the detriment of other important programs.

This extraterrestrial life essay would score highly for IELTS as it clearly answers the question, discussing both sides of the issues and providing the writers opinion. Ideas have supporting evidence and examples. 

It has good coherence and cohesion as it's well-organised into paragraphs and makes use of discourse markers and linking words well.

There are good examples of lexis and collocations, many of which are topic-related. For example:

• tremendous scientific and technological benefits
• development of new instruments, techniques, and methods of exploration
• the form of microbial organisms
• have a profound impact
• origin of life itself

There are also good examples of accurate and effective grammatical forms and sentences. For instance:

• Those who believe in the importance of searching for extraterrestrial life argue that this is an opportunity to answer one of the biggest questions in science and human history.
• ...will have tremendous scientific and technological benefits, including the development of new instruments, techniques, and methods of exploration that can be used for other purposes
• ...the discovery of extraterrestrial life, even if only in the form of microbial organisms, would have ...

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Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe

A stunning and inspiring memoir charting a life as an astronomer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Black woman in STEM, searching for life in the universe while building a meaningful life here on Earth. As a kid, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she—a young Black woman who also loved fashion, makeup, and the arts—didn’t belong, she left astronomy and pursued acting professionally for a decade, before a day job working for NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope drew her back to the stars. She was the oldest and the only Black student in her PhD cohort. This time, no professor, and no voice in her own head, would stop her. Now an astronomer and astrobiologist at the top of her field, Dr. Shields studies the universe outside our Solar System, researching and uncovering the planets circling distant stars with just the right conditions that could support life—while also using her theater education to communicate the wonder and magic of the universe with those of us here on Earth. But it’s been a journey as winding and complex as the physics she has mastered. Life on Other Planets  is a journey of discovery on this world and on others, a story of creating a life that makes space for joy, love, and wonder while being driven by one of our biggest questions: Is anybody else out there? It is about the possibility of living between multiple worlds and not choosing—but instead charting a new path entirely.

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What Is The Thesis Statement Of The Research Report Life On Mars?

Many students look for an excellent way to start a research paper on life on mars. However, to write a good thesis statement on the topic, a student must understand what a thesis statement is and its importance. This article aims to enlighten you on how to write a great thesis statement and give you some suggestions on thesis statements ideas you can use for your upcoming essay. But first: a thesis statement appears in the introductory paragraph and presents the essay’s main topic. In your life on mars paper, the thesis statement should introduce the reader to what you’ll be talking about. Your thesis statement is the most crucial part of an essay because it also sets the tone for the rest of the paper.

What Can You Write About in Your Life on Mars Thesis?

How to start thesis statement of the research report life on mars, why introduction to research report on life on mars matters, topics to write in your life on mars research paper thesis statement, let’s help you write the best life on mars thesis statements and papers.

There are three approaches you can use to write a thesis statement about life on Mars. They include giving detailed explanations, arguing your facts, and analyzing the topic. Here’s more to that:

• Explanatory thesis statement: This is where the writer gives a detailed account of a particular topic on life on mars. It requires you to be accurate on facts you write down and present evidence. These thesis statements do not support or oppose any claim.
• Argumentative thesis statement: Such a thesis statement requires you to express a specific view on life on Mars. After that, back or oppose your idea while supporting your stand. You need plenty of research to back your opinion. An example is ‘There can be no life on Mars.’
• Analytical thesis statement: It requires analysis of a particular topic, defining it, noting its various features, and evaluating it. Such thesis statements are suitable for writing papers where data analysis dominates.

An introduction to a research report done correctly will help you structure your argumentative, analytical or explanatory essay . Here are the steps to follow when writing your thesis statement on the research report on life on Mars:

• Conceptualize your thesis statement. It’s always a good idea to brainstorm and have the statement ready before writing. Have the relevant research to help you develop the body of your essay. In this case, read about life on Mars from several materials to establish points to write about.
• Answer a certain question. Your thesis statement should be an answer to a specific question. It should inform the reader what you’ll be writing about. For instance, a thesis statement such as ‘How life on mars negatively affects human life’ tells the reader that you intend to write about the adverse effects of mars on human life.
• Go straight to the point. A good thesis statement should be brief. While a couple of sentences may be acceptable, you should express your point in one sentence. For instance, an ideal thesis statement would be’ Human life on Mars is not possible.’

The introduction of any research report informs the reader of the paper’s contents. It gives some information on the subject that will be discussed. An excellent example of an introduction ought to:

• Provide the reader with background information about Mars.
• Talk about features of Mars similar to other planets like Earth.
• Briefly explain what you intend to write.

Are you figuring out what to write? The following are some examples regarding life on Mars that you can use as inspiration in your paper:

• How life on Mars would positively influence human life
• Analysis of the future possibilities of life on Mars
• Mars has the potential to support human life
• Evidence supporting the hypothesis of life on Mars

Feel free to reach out and learn more about thesis statements and relevant information to help you write a thesis. More so, we’ll write a variety of papers, from essays, homework, assignments, to dissertations, and guarantee quality essays with thesis statements that stand out.

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